Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate: July 2009

I recently read a book that said it's important to picture in your mind the things you want.

Visualize the house. Visualize the car. Visualize the relationship. Visualize the "SOLD" sign on your listings. Visualize the good health. Visualize the happiness. Visualize the constant stream of money coming in. Visualize the ideal vacation.

But in addition to seeing those things in your mind, FEEL LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE THEM. FEEL HAPPY!

And Dream Big!

Regardless of what's going on in the "outside world," hold on tight to your hopes and your dreams. Trust that they will come to you. Know that no dream is too big, and that with God, all things are possible. Believe!

It's a great way to live life. And when the pictures in your mind actually start to materialize...you realize the power you have.

So don't ever give up. No matter how tough things get or how discouraged you might feel, don't ever give up.

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE...

OK...I'm the first to admit that I was always a skeptic when it came to "buying into" the idea that our thoughts become things, that we create our lives through our thoughts, "ask and ye shall receive."

But several months ago, things started to fall apart and I had finally had enough.

I remembered a friend telling me about the book The Secret and that she really liked it. So I asked if I could borrow her copy. I started to read and couldn't put it down. For whatever reason, it all made sense to me. Some of it was tough to swallow -- like the idea that the thoughts I've had over the years created the life I was living. But when I really thought about it, well...it was pretty clear that our thoughts do become things.

And so the work began. Retrain my way of thinking. Create new pictures of how I wanted my life to be both professionally and personally.

I started blogging and "met" lots of very interesting and inspiring people on ActiveRain and learned that there were A LOT of folks out there who also believe that our thoughts and attitude have a profound effect on how our life unfolds.

It has been and continues to be a long journey, and while I haven't perfected my way of thinking, I've certainly improved. And I've seen some pretty neat results -- growth in business, improvement in personal relationships, looking forward to every day, and staying away from negative people.

I finally understand what it means to have faith in the unseen and to trust and believe that everything will be okay. Life is good.

This note of "thanks" is long overdue.

A few months ago I "met" a local home stager who found me on ActiveRain. As it turns out, Debby Pankow lives just a few miles from me in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

We've exchanged correspondence now and then but a few weeks ago I received a note from Debby that simply "made my day." Would I help her mom with the sale of her condo?

Though I have never met Debby in person, I could tell from her web site and emails that she is one of those genuinely kind people who cross your path every now and then. After meeting her mom, it was pretty clear where she got that nice trait from.

The condo is listed and the work has begun on finding the right buyer.

I continue to be "wowed" by the connections I make here on ActiveRain and the business it has generated. Sure is great incentive to blog, blog, blog!

A couple of months ago I reactivated my Facebook account. I had deactivated it after getting a little frustrated with some activity I saw happening.

But then I started hearing more and more about the benefits of having a Facebook page and how great it can be for business. And so I'm back.

I've "friended" several people since then -- some from high school who I haven't seen in many, many years, some family members who I see maybe a couple times a year, some past co-workers and acquaintainces.

For anyone who has followed my blog over the past several months, it's no secret that the latter part of 2008 and the earlier part of this year were filled with some very difficult personal and professional challenges. With the support of the best friends one could ask for and after taking some much needed time to "figure things out," my life is, for the most part, back on track.

Like anyone else, though, there are those days when discouragement, fear, and doubt creep into my thoughts.

A few days ago, I "reconnected" with a past customer on Facebook. I've done a total of four transactions with her family -- grandmother, cousin, brother -- and every one of them was simply a pleasure to work with.

About a week ago Jennie wrote on her wall, "If you're Happy and you know it Clap your hands!!! If you're Happy and you know it your Face should surely show it!!!"

I couldn't help but laugh to myself when I read that.

Then the next day, she posted, "WOW!!! Life is amazing!!! My next car is a white Mercedes!!!"

And the next day... "What a BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, EXCEPTIONAL, day!!!! It is a great day to be alive!!!!"

Yesterday's message was, "I'm happy, are you??? Get Happy!!!"

And today... "I love that I hold the whole entire rest of my life in my own hands... I choose to have a great one!!!"

I finally commented back to Jennie today how I love her posts. Always upbeat and always providing the little "push" I need to keep going, to let go of the discouragement, fear, and doubt and to remember that I can have a great life. Who would have thought I'd find that from a past customer on Facebook?

Everyone should have a Jennie in their life.

Every month I send out a newsletter to my current and past customers, and this year I decided to include some local home sales statistics in each issue. And each month I'd hold my breath as I generated the reports from my local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) program, hoping the numbers would show some positive activity.

Suffice to say...the month of June did NOT let me down. Take a look!

In Ozaukee County, the number of single-family homes sold (closed sales) jumped to 72, up from 50 in May. Condo sales jumped from 10 in May to 17 in June and 1 two-family unit sold -- one more than in May!

The average days on market for single-family fell from 130 to 126 for single-family and from 194 to 130 for condos.

Now let's take a look at Washington County:

The number of single-family homes sold in the month of June in Washington county was 99, up from 76 in May. Condo sales also saw an increase going from 24 in May to 27 in June. Four 2-family units sold in June up from two in May.

And how do the average days on market fare? Single-family went from 118 in May to 112 in June; condos went from 113 to 106; and two-family units went from 288 to 94!

I don't have to tell you how tough things have been for everyone lately -- job loss, rising gas prices, falling home prices...

But I like to think that the increased homesale activity we've seen in our area is an indication that there is light at the end of this tunnel. I have to believe that.

I know it will be awhile yet before the housing market is "back to normal," but these numbers, along with the increase in traffic through open houses and a growing number of private showings, indicate to me that the public's confidence is growing -- even slightly -- and that better days are ahead for all of us.

(Statistical data is provided by Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of 7/2/09.)

OK...so you wouldn't know it looking out the window today, but we're just three days from one of the most family fun days of the year -- the 4th of July.

And if you're looking for a great time, stop at Grafton's Holidaze celebration on Friday, July 3.

The day begins at 3:00 pm, when Lime Kiln Park (2020 Green Bay Road) opens. Bingo, food and refreshments will be available and music by Don Burhop will be provided 3:30-5:30.

From 4:30-8:30 pm the kids can enjoy inflatable attractions and games, which are sponsored by the Rose Harms American Legion family.

A parade featuring the UW Marching Band begins at 5:30. Thanks for the Heart of Grafton Family Restaurant for sponsoring this.

After the parade watch the UW Marching Band perform in the park at 6:00.

There will be a Rock Band Video Contest, sponsored by Best Buy, from 6:30-8:00 and Loose Change will be providing entertainment from 8:30-dusk.

A great fireworks display will begin at dusk, and this year's show is sponsored by Harris Bank and the Grafton Area Jaycees. Following the fireworks, Loose Change will continue entertaining us until 11:00 pm.

So enjoy the day we celebrate our independence by stopping by for part or all of the day's events!