As some of you may (or may not) have noticed, I've been a bit absent on the blog the last six months. Not necessarily gone per say, but Alex has been holding down the blog fort so to speak. While in the past, the split of our posts has been roughly 60/40, Alex coming in with an average of three posts per week for my two, but since January I've been lucky to make a weekly appearance. I have a good reason though, and today I'm finally ready to share some news that I've been keeping on the down low.

While many of our readers know that Alex is a computer programmer by trade, it's rare that I've spoken about my day job more than saying I'm "in marketing." And after nearly a decade and a half of non-profit B2B professional services and event marketing, conference and event planning, as well as brand management (are you sleeping yet?), I've decided to make a major change.

It's no secret that I love homes, and my passions lie in interior design, historic restoration, and entertaining. However, the question has always been, "How do I make a living doing what I love?" 

Don't get me wrong. I've had amazing professional experiences along the way, including business trips to exotic destinations.

Bosses that inspired me to challenge myself and grow both personally and professionally, and even a few run ins with people you may recognize.

But as cliche as it may sound, life is short, and I want to spend most of my waking hours with people whose company I enjoy, residing in a city I relish, while doing work that's meaningful and valued.

Which leads me to January of this year. After carefully considering several options, financially planning, and doing extensive research, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to pursue my real estate license. While still working my day job I began taking the prerequisite real estate courses in the evenings and on the weekends.

In April I sat for (and passed) the Virginia real estate sales peson licensing exam, and last month after interviewing several companies, I affiilated with McEnearney Associates here in Old Town, who I truly believe is the best fit for me.

My last official day at my old job (and career) was just last week, and I leave with bittersweet feelings. I'll miss the comfort that comes with being in an industry and a position for years, as well as miss the industry and members that I served on a daily basis. There are also so many amazing colleagues and friends that I'll miss dearly. I mean, how lucky am I to work with people that write heartfelt notes, give you a bouquet of flowers, or even bake you a cookie cake in your favorite color, complete with a "sold" sign on it to commemorate your career change?

But I'm also really excited. Excited to do something I love and am passionate about. Excited to be working with people to help them find a new home that's the right fit for their needs and their family. And excited to be learning, challenging, and pushing myself with "what could be," rather than getting comfortable with "it's not so bad."

Not only will I be helping people looking for or selling homes in the Northern Virginia area, but I also have access to a global network of resources and will work to help pair up people from anywhere with a local agent that best suits their needs. 

I'm only a few weeks into my new career and I've already helped my first clients find a new home in Old Town so they'll be closer to their first grandchild, and I'm working with several others to help them realize the dream of owning their first home. I'm even helping a few people through the daunting process of relocating to the area from another part of the country. 

Don't worry, Old Town Home isn't going anywhere. In fact, I'll now have more time and opportunity to uncover hidden home gems on a daily basis (and share some with you), and hopefully will have more time to get back to my own DIY endeavors. 

Things around here may change a bit though. As a licensed real estate professional I'll have to make some disclosures on the site to comply with various rules and regulations, and you may see some changes to our Open Housing posts. 

On the flip side, real estate isn't going to be all you hear about by any means. I've set up a separate Facebook page to include market updates, fun house tips, and insight into the life of a real estate agent. If you're interested in following along, you can find me here: www.facebook.com/wendysrealtor

I'm holding onto my hat, because I know it's going to be a crazy ride, but I can't be more excited for the journey and the coming days, weeks, and months.

Have you ever gone though a significant life career change and do you have any great advice to help me make the transition? I'm all ears.