Before he became the top-selling realtor in the Rhinebeck/Red Hook area and the single most productive in all of Dutchess County, Paul Hallenbeck was a middle school guidance counselor for a quarter century—and he sees a lot of parallels between helping tweens navigate life and helping adults find a home. "Real estate is not like ordinary retail, there are a lot of parts that go together to make it work," Hallenbeck says. "And both jobs require someone with a sense of possibilities and the idea to look beyond the surface. There's the same need for listening skills and helping people resolve problems and conflicts. Either job requires you to let go of the illusion that everyone thinks the way you do and pay attention to who they really are. At the same time, you gently encourage flexibility. Then the problem's resolved, the right house is found. And there's enormous joy in that."
