San Francisco, CA – May 15, 2007 – When Managing Broker Deborah Udin interviews a candidate for a job at Zephyr Real Estate she is looking for genuine enthusiasm and passion for the profession of real estate. She hopes to find agents who are so good at what they do that they can make a very complex job – REALTOR® – look easy to others.“You have to love what you do in real estate and be passionate about it because it shows,” said Udin, a partner at Zephyr, the largest independent real estate firm in San Francisco. “There is no dabbling in real estate. You must be fully committed, well beyond the attractive pay and flexible, but extensive, hours.”This personal and professional dedication has helped Udin advance her career and bring success to Zephyr. She currently oversees a team of 60 agents and support staff at the firm’s two Upper Market/Castro offices.Udin, who said she was always cut out for sales, grew up in New Orleans, LA. She attended Louisiana State University, studied sociology and spent time living in France. Unsure what to do with her life after that, Udin joined her cousin on a road trip to San Francisco in 1972. On this trip she decided to move to the city permanently.“I called my mother and told her to pack up my things because I was not coming home,” Udin explained. “And I never did.”Before spending 18 years in residential and investment real estate sales, Udin focused on shopping center development and served as the director of real estate for two international franchise companies. She joined Zephyr as sales manager of the 17th Street office in 1998. Udin holds a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) industry credential.Over the years, Udin has seen the industry evolve. She said agents today are taken more seriously than in the past. Agents are increasingly well-educated and professional and, as a result, are improving the standards of the industry. Udin sees more young people right out of college choosing real estate as their profession, rather than a 40-something career change or bored housewife looking for a job.“As a manager I must stay current with the profile of new agents,” she said. “This is a real niche opportunity for these new agents to sell to their own demographic – the young, first-time homebuyer. My job is to keep agents motivated, positive and focused on the big picture.”Udin has also seen real estate technology move at evolutionary warp speed. The Internet has increased the ability of agents to comprehensively access information and communicate with each other. Proprietary software gives real estate professionals the ability to stay on top of both inventory and market trends. Although she appreciates the value of changes, in truth Udin likes that real estate has stayed pretty much the same since she got her license in 1984.By stepping up to coordinate Zephyr’s charitable activities, Udin has helped raise funds and awareness for efforts benefiting youth, educational advocacy and people facing life-threatening illness, among others. Her spirit of volunteerism is a key contributor to the success of the business. “People respond to that,” said Udin. “It’s about the passion, people, commitment and just doing the right thing.”Zephyr Real EstateFounded in 1978, Zephyr Real Estate is San Francisco’s largest independent real estate firm with nearly $1.5 billion dollars in annual gross sales in 2006 and a current roster of more than 200 full-time agents. Zephyr has six offices strategically located in San Francisco and serves a large customer base throughout the City. For information, visit www.zephyrsf.com.