All of us will inevitably reach the day when we have to find a job. Although it may seem logical to postpone this inevitability until after graduation, the current state of the economy may not allow for such a luxury. A healthy mindset adopted by many a college student/graduate is, “the future is now,” and no two college students portray that better than seniors Andrew Brick and Greg Sharpe who recently started a new company called Malibu Off Campus.

Photos by: Rebecca Herron

Malibu Off Campus is a real estate company dedicated to student rentals and purchases.  Brick and Sharpe are both licensed real estate agents with Coldwell Banker of Malibu. According to their website, “Malibu Off Campus provides a convenient one-stop shop to help Pepperdine students find off campus housing and meet their off campus housing needs. And best of all, the service is absolutely free for students!”

Brick and Sharpe first conceived the idea after studying abroad and completing their respective internships required by Pepperdine for graduation. Brick’s experience at his internship was less than desirable.

“I didn’t like interning and hated being in a cubicle,” Brick explained. So he decided to make his own career, call all his own shots, and make his own schedule.

Sharpe studied abroad in Germany during his sophomore year and had a difficult time finding somewhere to live when he returned to Malibu. This difficulty combined with Brick’s undesirable internship experience sparked the idea of Malibu Off Campus.

Both Brick and Sharpe attained their jobs at Coldwell Banker through the assistance of Business Professor John Elliot who had a representative from Coldwell Banker come in and speak to their class.  Brick and Sharpe were put in touch with him and through that contact were able to secure a position with the company.

In order to become realtors, Brick and Sharpe took several classes, one that they were able to take at Pepperdine. After the completion of the classes they took their Realtors exam. The entire process took a short four months, as they started preparing to become real estate agents back in November.

Brick and Sharpe now have a small yet successful real estate business located in Malibu. The funding they received was minimal, however the only immediate costs they needed to cover were the costs of the classes and exam, as well as their LLC and website.

And one could say their company is a success. With the launch of their company in the past week they have already had 20 groups of students contact them requesting their services.

To other students looking to launch a business career they have a few simple words: “start figuring out what you want to do now and go for it.”

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