Well, look no further than the Stables on Reid Street out on the edge of Hamilton where Buddy Rego runs Rego Limited and his father, Benny, works for him.

"Yes,'' says Buddy "technically my father works for me, because I purchased this business from him nine years ago.

"But Dad has other interests and personal affairs, as well.'' Speaking with the confidence born of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science from the University of Western Ontario, this 36-year-old Bermudian lived and worked in Hong Kong for five or six years and it was only when he was back in Bermuda on vacation that his father talked him into taking a job in Rego Limited.

Buddy soon found that he had taken on a job that takes hold of you for virtually every working hour of the day.

"If I'm at a party or just out with friends, the subject will come up,'' he said.

"Just because people know who I am and what I do for a living. So the subject is always there.'' And he is the first to agree that the profession does not suit everyone.

And part time sales people "just do not last''.

The skills needed for the job are easily listed by Buddy: Inter-personal skills, some imagination, and an eagerness to succeed -- and to keep at the work until success is there.

"You must always assume that your client is dealing with other real estate firms -- most of them are.

"So you are selling more than the property, you're selling service. You mustn't forget that.'' Rego Limited has twelve employees, five of whom are salespeople. And the firm is intending to hire two more salespeople, just to keep up with the pace of a very good year.

But as its generic name suggests, the company has more than just selling real estate to occupy the staff. Rentals, insurance, property manangement, and financing.

"And the banks have more money than they have had for some years -- because of the low interest rates abroad.'' And how has business been this year? "Incredible'' says Buddy "but that isn't true of Bermuda real estate in general.'' For anyone to say that business is anything but lousy in this financially gloomy year must cause surprise, but Buddy thinks he knows why the firm has done well.

"The more you put in, the more you get out'' he says.

What makes the Bermuda real estate market different and, according to some, more challenging than any other market? "There are no real neighbourhoods'' says Buddy. "You can have the most expensive, lavish piece of property right beside an unimportant little cottage.'' The enthusiasm in this aggressive, ambitious young man is best exemplified in his frank admission: "I live, eat, sleep, think, real estate twenty-four hours a day.'' Dad must be proud of him.

TECHNICALLY, Benjamin Rego Jr., right, better known as Buddy, is his father's boss.