Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate: August 2009

This post will be brief. I think this picture pretty much says it all. I received it in an email from my aunt this morning. I continue to be amazed and comforted by the way God speaks to us when we need it most.

Just some great thoughts from my ActiveRain friend, Fran.

You've heard the expression, haven't you? "I just had an ah-ha moment." These are those moments when the "lightbulb goes off" in your head, and you start to see things more clearly.

And I'm sure you've also heard the expression, "Everything happens for a reason." That one has been tough to comprehend over the past years, but I think I'm finally getting it.

I had often heard people say if you listen very closely, you'll hear God talk to you and provide guidance or answers to your prayers. I have to admit, I never understood what that meant. Did these people really hear a voice?? I thought hearing voices wasn't a good thing...

But then I started reading The Secret. And I started to see things more clearly and "hear" those answers I'd been looking for. Finally! It isn't necessarily a voice that is heard, but other events that happen around you through which you will hear God's whisper.

If you're not familiar with this book, it explains the law of attraction and how we all create the lives we have through our thoughts and our feelings. What you think about, you bring about. Some may buy into that idea; some may not. I do.

The book goes on to say ask for what you want, believe you have it already, and then open yourself up to receive it. Really get clear in your mind what you want and just ask.

"Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

I think for all of us life can sometimes get a bit overwhelming and we might start to see that we're not real thrilled with where our life is at or where it's headed. So it's time to make a change. But what kind of change?

For me, it was adopting a whole new way of thinking and having a new attitude, which started to happen after being knocked off my feet by some circumstances in my personal and professional lives.

Ask for what I want, believe it's already here, and receive it.

Expect the best, rather than the worst.

Be aware of what I say and think.

Stay focused on the end result.

Visualize it.

Have faith.

This journey has not been an easy one, as sometimes it's felt like taking one step forward and two steps back. But I've certainly started to "hear" guidance from up above. And it's pretty amazing when that starts to happen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God." Exactly.

I learned to pay attention to the people who cross my path at the most needed moments -- former customers and acquaintances whose enthusiasm for life bubbles over into yours through simple yet inspirational posts on Facebook; or a college friend who sends an email out of the blue telling you about the recent adoption of their little girl followed by a phone call during which she tells you that she always believed and knew they would have a child one day. Yes, there were moments of doubt, but she never, ever lost complete sight of the end result -- a complete family.

I recently heard a sermon by my priest reminding us to pay attention to what is going on around us because among all that activity is the push or inspiration we need.

And I've heard a particular song on the radio that I'm sure is speaking directly to me and my current situation.

Several days ago I had that "a-ha" moment. I finally got why "being knocked off my feet" was necessary.

I really think it was God's way of saying, "OK...this is going to hurt, and I'm sorry to put you through this, but it's the only way to get you to start making the changes you need to make."

When you take the time to slow down and think about what has been happening around you, it is clear how all of these events are working together to get you to where you want to be. A-ha!

So slow down, even for just a few minutes, and pay attention. I'm not so sure things are as complicated as we sometimes make them out to be. All we have to do is listen. The answers are always there for us.

It's here -- well, almost. Closing day. The home inspection is completed. You have loan commitment. The boxes are packed. You are about to become a new homeowner. But there's one more thing to do.

The "Final Walkthrough."

So...what's a final walkthrough?

Quite simply, it's an opportunity for you, the buyer, to take a final look at the house before closing day to make sure that, except for normal wear and tear, there are no significant changes in the condition of the property. It is also a time to ensure repairs have been made in a manner as they were agreed upon in the contract.

What isn't a final walkthrough?

A final walkthrough is not a home inspection. It's not the time to check if every window is working properly, or to check when the last time was that the furnace and air conditioning were serviced, or to check for any signs of water damage. Those items are looked at during the home inspection, if you choose to include that as part of the terms in your offer.

And if you chose not to have a home inspection...well, you're outta luck at this point.

So be sure to talk to your sales agent when writing an offer about the benefits of having a home inspection included as part of the terms of your offer. Making that investment of a few hundred dollars can help alleviate any concerns or anxieties about potential issues at the final walkthrough and beyond closing.

I keep hearing people say they can't believe it's August already. They can't believe the kids have to go back to school in a week or two. I think this is the first summer in -- well, I don't remember when I didn't feel anxious or sad that summer was coming to an end. And I think it's because this summer I made it a point to take time to have FUN.

Play in the sandbox with my 3-year old nephew. Go to a water ski show. Go to the county and state fairs. Go biking. Sit on the beach and just listen. Watch the sun rise. Watch the sun set. Watch the flowers drink their water with my nephew. Laugh. Have a glass of wine with friends. Go to the farmer's market. Eat a smore. Go to a Brewers game. Watch a summer concert at the lakefront. Order pizza while watching the fireworks. Reminisce with my cousins and siblings. Go to Chicago and view the city from the top of the Hancock Building. Hug my teenage nephews.

 It was a busy summer with real estate, as well, but it wasn't all real estate.

And I chose to have it that way.

You hear so often that we are what we are and where we are because of choices that we make. That can be tough to swallow, depending on your current situation or the circumstances surrounding you, but it is the truth.

I think after losing yet another family member early in the summer, I knew it was time to choose to have more fun. I love my job and know I am so blessed to work with the people I get to work with. But I want to be able to look back at my years and have memories of playtime, not just worktime.

There are still a few weeks of summer left and a lifetime of weeks beyond that.

I think I'm going to go make some sidewalk art.

Photos are the property of Peggy Wester and may not be reproduced or distributed without written consent.

So I'm not even sure where to start on this one...

About a week ago my sister-in-law mentioned that she saw a notice in the local newspaper that a house I had an accepted offer on was going to sheriff's sale in mid-September? Huh?!?

The offer was accepted by the bank, the inspection was scheduled, and the buyer's financing was underway. So I brushed it off as some sort of error.

But then I checked yesterday's issue of the same newspaper, and lo and behold -- there it was. A sheriff's sale is scheduled for 1:00 pm on September 17 at the county courthouse. Huh?!? How could this be??

So I emailed the listing agent who called back a short time later. "We have a problem." Huh???

He proceeded to tell me that after a few phone calls he was able to talk with the foreclosure attorney for this house and was told there were actually two mortgages on this house. One had been foreclosed but the other -- well, not so much.

So you know that offer I said was accepted? It meant nothing. And the listing contract this agent had with the bank who supposedly now owned the house? It meant nothing. And the bank who supposedly owns the house? They don't. The original owners still do. And that's why there's a sheriff's sale at 1:00 pm on September 17 at the county courthouse.

I believe the listing agent called this a "defective foreclosure." Huh?!?!

So I called Mrs. Buyer and explained the situation as best I could in the stunned state I was in. Her reaction was, well, shock -- dismay -- confusion -- huh?!?! How could this be???

The buyers can get their earnest money back, but as far as the money they forked out for a home inspection and appraisal -- well, that is yet to be seen.

So who dropped the ball on this one? Who's to blame for this HUGE oversight? The title company? The foreclosure attorney? And will the party or parties ever be held accountable for this huge mess?

My head is still spinning on this one. I don't know what's going to happen next. Will the buyers wait to see if the house goes at the sheriff's sale? If it doesn't sell at sheriff's sale, will they consider writing another offer? Should they consider writing another offer? Should they just move on to another house? Hmmmmm....

I have to admit my experience with short sales and foreclosures is pretty minimal, especially compared to many other agents out there. But this is a new one. A defective foreclosure. Have never heard mention of that possibility before.

Can't wait to see how this story ends...

A few weeks ago my sister asked me if I knew of a photographer in the area who would take my nephew's senior picture. I immediately thought of Michael from Photography by Michael, located here in Grafton.

I had met Michael several years ago when he took photographs of the first communicants at my church and had most recently hired him to take my professional photograph. Both Michael and his wife, Dale, always impressed me with their hospitality, humor, and simple kindness. And his work -- well that spoke for itself.

I mentioned to my sister that I had heard Michael was recently diagnosed with cancer, and that I therefore wasn't sure how much he was working these days. But she gave him a call, and an appointment was made for this past Thursday.

I met my sister and nephew that morning and watched as Michael did his magic -- finding detail in the buildings and plants that surrounded us that we, during the countless walks we had made through town, never noticed. And we watched as he would manipulate a way to incorporate those details into the photographs of my nephew.

As we walked along, my sister whispered, "He is a treasure."

Michael didn't have his usual energy that day, and he seemed to tire easily. And while I don't know what his prognosis is, I do know that despite the battle he's facing, he managed to bring smiles to our faces and even drew out some laughter.

I don't know if it's because I lost my dad and other family members and friends to cancer that I can't get Michael and Dale out of my mind. Having traveled that journey, it breaks my heart to see another family go through it.

And so it is my hope that all the Michaels out there know of the thoughts and prayers that are sent their way, and that each of them recognize the treasures they are.

I just received this video in an email message and had to pass it on. It's one I've never seen before, but it certainly got me to relax for a few minutes and enjoy. We really are blessed, aren't we?  Enjoy...

 God's Colors