SANTO DOMINGO- On October 29, 1971, through decree 1656, November was designated as the Month of the Family in the Dominican Republic, a date that is used every year by institutions to recognize the importance of the main social nucleus and pay tribute to the highest organization of human coexistence.
A family is defined as a group of people united by a bond of partnership, blood ties or some other type of situation, in which the individuals live together and are united by some type of bond.
Various schools of thought establish different classifications of family types. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for instance, identifies six: nuclear or traditional, extended, single-parent, same-sex parent, stepfamily, and blended.
In the Dominican real estate market, it's very common to see families leading teams or simply forming part of their staff. In inquiries initiated by El Inmobiliario at Múdate, Plusval, Mr Home, Kwcapital, Geraldino Realty SRL, Inmobiliaria Grupal, Élite House, and TimeHomes, a common denominator is the prevalence of families—spouses, children, nephews, brothers, or sisters.
At Múdate there are two married couples working, at Plusval two couples with children and parents; at Mr Home five married couples, at kwcapital a mother, daughter and siblings; Geraldino Realty SRL is headed by a married couple; Inmobiliaria Grupal is headed by a couple; at Élite House there are siblings and at TimeHomes there is a varied mix of sister, nephews, mother, mother and daughter.
And the truth is, life smiles much more on human beings, regardless of position or stature, when they walk hand in hand with a family member. The family network is infinite support, the crutch that keeps us from falling, the relief from sorrows, the shoulder that shelters us, the blanket that warms us, the parachute that protects us from our collapses; it is unique and undying love; they are the ones who await our arrival when the lights go out and the curtain falls.
In commemoration of Family Month, we will present some of the faces of those who influence and share spaces in the real estate world of the country.
Alberto Bogaert, current president of the AEI (Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies), works alongside his wife, Cristina Alba. They are part of the A&C team at Múdate and represent one of the closest-knit families in the industry. “For us, family is everything. It's a refuge where we are accepted as we are, the nucleus where we learn responsibilities and obligations, the cell of society where we can find love, respect, and true support. If all homes in the world fostered family life, we would have more values and less violence in our lives.”
They have both been working together for several years and say that it doesn't affect their relationship at all; "on the contrary, it keeps us in contact and handling important issues. Working as a family doesn't mean we have to spend all day together; each of us has our own roles and responsibilities, and what's important in the end is that the effort we make together is satisfying," they say.
Families currently experiencing a crisis, regardless of their economic status, are told that "the most important thing is to stay united, positive, communicate, and above all, understand each other in order to overcome any situation, always remembering that God is the center of every home and this will help them to be stronger in every situation."
Welcome Paulino, of Plusval Dominicana, is one of the people who bring dignity to the real estate sector. He works with his children, Mariel and Ramón, and proudly states that working alongside them is more than satisfying. “Because it means the continuation of my work, it’s like planting a tree and thinking that it will bear new fruit. Yours will wither, but theirs will continue, it will remain beyond your existence.”.
Mariel has been involved in the real estate sector for more than 15 years, she has a degree in marketing, with a master's degree in senior management, while Ramón, who has been linked to the real estate world for a year and a half, is a business administrator, with a master's degree in business management.
For this veteran agent, his family is his greatest wealth; his five grandchildren are his driving force and motivation, his children his greatest fortune, and his wife of 46 years represents his peace and understanding. “In short, family is my center of gravity.”.
Tobe continued…
