Lorene McCants has worked in real estate in Fairhope since 1978, and even though she's 86 years old, she doesn't plan on quitting anytime soon.

“I love what I do,” she says. “People tell me all the time, 'Good for you,' especially people who are retired. I think it keeps me active.”

Lorene got into the real estate business because her sister-in-law didn't want to attend real estate classes alone.

“I decided I might do (real estate) part time, but I found out this is not a part-time job, so I quit my job, and I've never regretted it,” she says. “It's been a wonderful experience and I've met a lot of interesting people.”

The industry and the area have both changed a lot since the 70s, Lorene says.

“There weren't many houses on the market, so you only had to show one or two, and you really had to look for them,” she remembers. “We didn't have all this paperwork or computers or even calculators. We used an old-fashioned typewriter. And people didn't bicker about the prices.”

Lorene, who grew up in Fairhope, remembers the town before Mayor James Nix initiated its beautification.

“There weren't any flowers or anything,” she says. “We just had the bay.”

Most of Lorene's current clients have been with her for many years, she says.

“You get to know them and they become part of your family, really,” she says. “I've got people I sold houses to that I still keep in touch with.”

Lorene's real estate philosophy is simple: keep her buyers and sellers informed. Everyone likes to be up-to-date, she says.

“I know people are anxious,” she says. “They want to know.”

Before the 2008 housing crisis, Lorene says she knew prices were bound to go down eventually, and she warned her clients that the sky-high prices would one day come to an end.

“Prices kept going up, up, up, and it had to stop somewhere,” she says. “I told people, 'This can't last; it's got to bottom out somewhere. I think now, the prices will stay down reasonably. The mortgage companies have tightened up.”

Only two people Lorene has sold to in her 35-year career have ever gone into foreclosure, she says. She tries to counsel people and figure out what they can afford before selling them a house.

“I try to be a resource,” she says. “I don't push people.”

In addition to continuing her real estate career, Lorene also stays busy with her church, Trinity Presbyterian, of which she has been a member for 49 years. She is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Retired Federal Employees Auxiliary, the Wisteria Garden Club, the Baldwin County Association of Realtors and the Alabama Association of Realtors.

For Lorene, age is just a number. She doesn't have a set number of years or age she wants to reach before she retires. She's just happy doing what she loves and will continue as long as she is able.

“Whenever I decide I want to quit, I'll quit,” she says.  

People profile

NAME: Lorene McCants

AGE: 86

YEARS IN REAL ESTATE: 35

HOMETOWN: Fairhope

COMPANY: Better Homes and Land on Fairhope Avenue