Glenda Pelfrey is a real estate agent for Keller Williams Realty in Gardendale.

She said she likes being a real estate agent because the hours are flexible, which allows her to be a part of her kids’ lives.

She was a stay-at-home mom before getting into real estate four years ago, but decided she wanted some income. She went into the medical field after that, but the hours weren’t as flexible as she wanted.

“It’s not always a steady paycheck, but it can be good income for somebody like me who’s trying to get some extra money,” she said.

Pelfrey said people should use a real estate agent when buying a home because of their expertise and the advertising tools available to them.

“I love how eager first time buyers are. I always think about how my kids are going to buy a house one day,” she said. “I think, ‘if these were my kids, what would I want them to do?’”

She said she likes her job because she likes working with people, and she likes to see new houses and to get to know a new area.

“I got to sell some property up on Smith Lake. Even though I grew up on the lake, I still got to know the area even better,” she said.

A typical day for Pelfrey involves searching through tax records and Internet databases to find real estate listings.

“You can work at the office or at home, but I get more done in the office. There are fewer distractions,” she said. Pelfrey said it can be challenging when closing a sale on a home doesn’t quite happen, but that she usually figures out a way to make it happen.

Pelfrey said she feels the real estate market is improving a little.

“Some mortgage companies might be a little stiff when it comes to loans, but it’s a great time to buy a house,” she said.