From Stories to Deals, Dawn Hobby Moves Into Real Estate
Monday, April 27th, 2015
Instead of chasing stories, Dawn Hobby is now chasing deals. After 35 years in television news at WALB, Hobby entered the world of residential and commercial real estate.
"I always enjoyed real estate – looking through the Sunday newspaper ads back in the day and going to open houses. And I like meeting people and working with people. Real estate is really about relationships and helping people; it's a lot more than math," Hobby said.
"When I hit my 35th anniversary, I decided it was time to try it so I studied and got my Georgia real estate license, and in March I started working full time as a realtor."
Hobby is now one of the 20 sales associates at Coldwell Banker – Walden and Kirkland, Inc., the oldest real estate agency in Albany. Asked why she chose Walden and Kirkland, she said, "At their Tuesday morning sales meeting, they have devotional and I like that. They function like a family with the attitude that there is enough real estate to go around. It's a good, healthy environment and I'm exposed to some of the best people in the business."
Hobby began her career at WALB as a production assistant in 1980. She moved up through the ranks to producer, reporter and evening anchor. In 2013, she was promoted to news director. Hobby received numerous awards during her broadcasting career, including an EMMY Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast in 2011 for her work on the "Gulf Oil Crisis" special report.
Taking a new look at Albany from a realtor's perspective, Hobby is amazed at the volume of real estate transactions that occur in and around the city. She has listings across Dougherty and Lee counties.
"We're coming back from a devastating recession and there is just a lot of activity right now," Hobby said.
Hobby's new profession gives her the flexibility to spend more time with her husband, an author and commercial pilot based in Atlanta. It also provides just as much stimuli as television news, she reports.
"I was worried I would miss the adrenaline of TV news, but I find that I get just as excited and pumped up doing a deal as I did with breaking news," Hobby said.
"And while I miss my TV friends, I am so appreciative of all the support I've gotten from the community. People recognize me on the street and call out their support and that means so much."
More information on Dawn Hobby is available on the Walden and Kirkland website at www.coldwellbanker.com/agents/Dawn-Hobby-31701.
