Inventory for all property types declined in almost all areas, except for Rockland’s condo and co-op markets, the latter with an 84.6% gain. The Bronx led the region for new listings, with a 31.9% increase.
PrimeSource, which is a leading manufacturer of proprietary brands and a distributor of premier third-party brands, will utilize the location to service New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Shanese Williams, an agent with Real Broker NY LLC, loves working with people—all different types of people. What makes her story unique is that the road to her real estate career was paved not through a former corporate position like many others, but as a 20-year veteran of the New York City Department of Corrections.
Starting out as a corrections officer, Williams spent 17 years working on Riker’s Island and three years at the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward. She eventually rose to the rank of program captain.
Originally, Williams completed the exams for New York City police officer and corrections officer and took the corrections position as it became available first. “I’ll be honest, working in a jail can be dangerous, but in there, I knew who my targets were—out on the street, you don’t ever know,” she shared.
As program captain, she was responsible for boosting morale for the staff and planned many events with food vendors and other businesses. “We had Mother’s Day celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Day and a lot more,” she recalled.
Williams and her staff were also responsible for the reduction of recidivism for the inmates. This included finding jobs for those eligible for release. They also had an agreement with Manhattan College to provide a free college education for 10 inmates. “Most of them were adults with families, who were incarcerated for petty crimes for one year or less,” she said. “I think they had more promise at the end of their sentences, and many have gone on to be successful.”
From time to time, she would even run into the families of former inmates in local restaurants. “They were so grateful for the help we provided and sometimes they’d even pay for my dinner,” Williams recalled.
When she retired from the prison system, Williams said it was the sale of her first property that prompted her to consider a real estate career. Impressed by her broker, Lena Silk of National Veterans Realty Group in Harriman, Williams got her license in 2019 and began working with Silk.
“I got my license and then COVID hit, so I didn’t do my first deal until 2021,” she admitted. “It was challenging but I watched and learned. I’m like a learning junkie and that desire is what is still sustaining me. You learn something new every day and there’s never a dull moment.”
Today, Williams lives in Monroe and is enjoying her first year as an HGAR Director. Last year, she completed the association’s Leadership Accelerator Program, which she credits for helping her to become a board member. “I loved the program—it was the best thing that happened to me,” she said. “It helped me to be more grounded in real estate and gave me a home to be around so many professionals.”
As Real Broker NY is a cloud-based firm, Williams works from her home most of the time. As for her involvement as a board member, she describes it as similar to playing “Double Dutch” jump rope. “You watch and see and then get ready to step in,” she quipped. “It’s going very well and I’m still learning a lot.”
Williams also takes time to serve on the executive board for NAREB Westchester and was involved in this year’s “Building Black Wealth Tour” at Mount Vernon High School. “It was very well attended, and I think made a big difference in the community,” she said. On the national level, NAREB has been giving grants to students to go toward the purchase of their first home. Williams also serves as Parliamentarian for NAREB Westchester.
Earlier this year, Williams served as a panelist on a joint program with HGAR and Junior Achievement at the Newburgh Free Academy. The group discussed financial literacy, home ownership and real estate careers. In addition, she always manages to find time to attend various check presentations with the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation when it donates funds to local charities and non-profit organizations.
In her free time, Williams likes spending time with her two sons, aged 22 and 20. For those considering a real estate career, Williams offers some sound advice: “You get out of it what you put into it,” she said. “Trust in what you’re doing.”
Looking back over her life, Williams believes real estate does relate to what she did in her past career. “It’s an opportunity for me to still serve and make an impact.”
Inventory for all property types declined in almost all areas, except for Rockland’s condo and co-op markets, the latter with an 84.6% gain. The Bronx led the region for new listings, with a 31.9% increase.
PrimeSource, which is a leading manufacturer of proprietary brands and a distributor of premier third-party brands, will utilize the location to service New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
City and State honored 100 “New Yorkers who are on the front lines, creating jobs and spurring economic growth on the local, state and national levels.”
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