Back in the Dark Times before I went full freelance, I worked at the Lake County News-Herald as a graphic designer. My chief task there was to design ad layouts, both as spec designs to entice new advertisers, or to establish a cool looking layout for production 
to later flow in the actual content.
The most common advertisers I designed for were car dealers and real estate agencies. I was the News-Herald's graphic artist for two years, and in that time, I think I figured out every way to advertise cars and houses possible. It's little box with copy after little box with copy.
I thought that I was done with that part of my life, but my Mom is a real estate agent and asked me to design a newspaper layout for her and a group of other agents who were taking out an ad. So, I found myself back in the real estate layout game.
It went pretty smoothly at first. After the second proof, though, it was just like being back at the paper.
Anyway, here's the ad.
I did have some great times at the News-Herald. The people, as with most things, were the best part. When I left, it was definitely time to leave, but I still look back on those days fondly.