Ozaukee & Washington County Real Estate

I admit it. I have a hard time letting go. Personally. Professionally. I hate letting go. Makes me feel like I failed or am giving up.

So when one of my listings nears its "expiration date," I typically contact the sellers a couple weeks before and ask for the opportunity to continue working with them. That has how it has always been for me. Until now.

This world of real estate has changed considerably over the past several months -- it's been a whirlwind of different challenges. And I've learned that there is only so much I, as the listing agent, can do for my sellers.

I can communicate with them on a regular basis and inform them of current market conditions, the competition's prices, the recent solds, short sales and foreclosures. What they do with that information, is their choice.

I cannot force them to adjust the price even if it is clear that needs to be done to get the home sold. I cannot force them to make repairs or minor updates even if those issues are brought up multiple times in showing feedback reports. I cannot change what is happening in the local market.

And I cannot make them respond to my emails and voicemails.

What I can do, however, is choose where to focus my time and energy. I can choose to put my time and effort into those listings whose sellers do understand and accept the current market conditions. I can choose to work with those sellers who, as disheartening as it is, know that to get their house sold must adjust the price to make it compelling to a buyer.

And so that is what I am choosing to do.

Letting go -- it doesn't have to mean failure or giving up. It can mean I am choosing to do what is best for me and my business.

It seems like things are getting tougher and tougher in the world of real estate. More and more "for sales" are popping up, interest rates have creeped up a bit, the buyer tax credit is nearing its end, and short sales and foreclosures continue to spatter the inventory. And yet, it is still difficult for some to accept that no one is immune from the rippling effects of these conditions.

Those of us who are in the business of residential real estate sales hear it all the time. "I need to net this amount of money, so I need to price my house here." If only it worked that way. But it doesn't. It simply doesn't.

In this complicated market, prices continue to drop. In our area, we rarely see a home sell for its assessed value anymore, much less fair market value. So if a seller is selling within a couple of years of buying and has made minimal improvements, if any, chances are they will not be making a profit. No matter what is wanted or "needed" to net from the sale, the buyer will determine what the home's value is.

Remember that today's buyers are pretty savvy -- they know what you paid. They know what the assessed and fair market values are. They know what comparable homes in the neighborhood have sold for. And they know that home values have fallen over the past few years and unfortunately continue to do so.

If your goal really is to sell your house, you must price it appropriately. A buyer doesn't care how much you need or want to walk away with at the closing table. So price it to sell, not to sit.

This April will mark eight years since I stepped into the world of real estate sales. Eight years -- who would have thought? That is a record for me; I've never been at any other job that long. But then again, this is the first time "going to work" hasn't felt like "going to work."

I've certainly met a number of memorable folks during my career as a writer, which is the world I was in prior to real estate. But for whatever reason, it hasn't been until now that I feel a special and unique connection with the people I meet in this job I have now.

Several days ago, I received a call from a buyer I had been working with for a while. She called to let me know she has decided to move out of state, closer to family, and would therefore not be purchasing a home here. Through our conversation, she disclosed some challenging times she'd been facing and the difficult decisions she has had to make. Although she had obviously been struggling, she seemed to now have a good grasp on what she needed to do. As I told her, she is wise beyond her years. She thanked me for the time I spent with her looking for a house and apologized that a sale was not to be.

As a writer, I don't ever recall having my time and efforts acknowledged to the degree they are as a real estate agent. While there are, of course, exceptions, I continue to be humbled by the kind and sincere words of thanks and appreciation my buyers and sellers express throughout the transaction. The amount of time spent with each gives that opportunity to move a bit beyond the "business" relationship and get to know them on a more personal level.

I find that most share a sense of humor about life, all have had hardships they've endured, and all ultimately want the same thing in life -- to be happy, to simply be happy.

I never thought selling homes would result in some great friendships with the buyers and sellers I'd meet along the way. But how lucky am I that things turn out that way.

Persistence pays off. How many times have we heard that?

How many times have I decided I was going to go after something I wanted and then get frustrated enough to "just forget it?" Too many to count, unfortunately.

But over the past few days I watched in awe as some buyers I was working with kept "going after" the house they wanted by using every bit of creativity and brainstorming they could muster up to find "the way" to make this deal work.

I told myself over and over to keep that picture of them purchasing the house in my mind and to trust that there would be a way for it to happen, even though I could not see how. There were moments of doubt and frustration, but I kept telling myself to hold on to that picture -- that end result.

Just have faith.

So over two or three days the phone calls and the emails were exchanged, possible solutions were pondered, questions were asked, answers were found, and persistence ultimately paid off. An accepted offer came through yesterday afternoon.

I have heard a lot over the past several months of the importance of trusting that things will work out even if the "how" is no where to be seen. It's call faith -- believing in what we cannot see. I finally got that -- really got that.

Watching my buyers' persistence over the past few days was a great lesson and reminder for me to go after what I want. Just do it. No matter what it is, go after it. Stay focused on that end result and know that "how" it will come to you will work itself out.

Just BELIEVE.

Well, here it is Friday night, and I'm realizing I didn't have a particularly stellar week in real estate. Hmmmm....what's going on?

Times like these tend to put a damper on my attitude, confidence, and enthusiasm, but I always try to find some sort of motivation to get me back on track. I found it just a little while ago.

I met some buyers of mine at the house we're set to close on in two weeks. They just wanted to take some measurements and take another look around. The sellers came home while we were there, and the four of them struck up a friendly conversation about each of their plans. It was one of the most cordial meetings I've ever seen between buyers and sellers.

As we were leaving, my buyers thanked me for my time, and then she added, "Thank you for everything."

It's funny, but as happy as I am that we found "the" house for them and as satisfying as it is to see and hear their excitement, I have to admit I'm a little bummed that two weeks from now, this transaction will be closed. No more regular contact. Sure I'll add them to my mailing list and connect with them regularly just as I do with all my past buyers and sellers, but it's not the same.

The opportunity to meet and work with the Jasons and Micahs in this world remind me why I do what I do. And they always provide that motivation to get back on track -- to improve my attitude, grow my self-confidence, and be enthusiastic about all the opportunities I am given.

So thanks for your kind words...I needed that.

Have you ever sat down in front of the computer knowing what you want to write about but not sure how to start? Or how to get it all out in a neat and concise way? That's how I'm feeling right now...

Life has been interesting the past several months -- almost a year now. Personal and professional hurdles have knocked me on my bottom, and after long talks with the best of friends, hours upon hours of reading, hours upon hours of praying, long walks, talking with Dad (who I know is watching over me), and drives through the peace-filled countryside, I thought I had picked myself up and brushed myself off. I thought I was clear in my mind of what I had to do, what changes I had to make that hadn't already been made, and what I wanted.

But here I am on a Saturday evening struggling to sort through this muddied mess.

I lost someone in my life who I considered a friend as a result of circumstances I had no control over. And I miss him. I miss his smile, his sarcasm, his laugh, his stories of his kids, his sweetness. Funny how it doesn't hurt any less now than it did months ago. It breaks my heart.

I have a job that I love. But yet I struggle with feelings of letting my clients and customers down as we all struggle to come out of a real estate market that has proven to be more than a challenge to so many. Do they know I am doing all that I can to find "the" buyer for their house? Do they know I am checking every day -- several times a day -- for the "perfect" house for them?

And like so many others, the bills seem to stack up quicker than they get paid.

Sometimes it feels like you're at the bottom of a pit, looking up for any sign of light, but it's just not there. And then something points you in the direction of taking a drive and ending up at your mom's house and visiting with her and your 3-year old nephew, who she happens to be watching for a couple hours. And his innocence and inquisitiveness erases the hurt and doubt for just a little while. And your mom's offer of some homemade caramel corn and a bag of candy to take home warms your heart.

Words of encouragement from an unexpected online chat with a dear friend help to reassure you that all will be well -- that you deserve to be and will be happy. Be happy now.

I don't know what's ahead for me. I do know there will be some pretty big changes, though I'm not sure what exactly those changes will be. And I know that I have to trust and believe things will be okay. I have to. Don't we all? After all, without faith and hope, what do we have?

Here's to letting go, and letting God...

I heard it again today in a conversation I was having -- the importance of taking time to "stop and smell the roses." Slow down. Take a break. Relax.

And yet, I rarely see the behavior patterns of those around me change. It's just rush, rush, rush.

I've heard it time and time again at the funeral of a friend or loved one -- "We should really get together more often." But it never happens.

Or we hear of an acquaintence who's our age who suffered a stroke or heart attack or was recently diagnosed with cancer. It reminds us of our own mortality and the importance of not putting things off until tomorrow. But we continue to put things off until tomorrow, and the next day, and the next and the next.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm just as guilty of this as the next person. But I will also say, I have made a real effort over the past several months to "play" more and really pay attention to the little things, and life has certainly been better.

Business is still booming, the house still gets cleaned, the bills still get paid, the grocery shopping is still done.

But all of that is wrapped in loads of memories...

Rolling down the hill with my nephew, going to the kite festival, playing in the sandbox, watching the flowers drink their water, sitting at the beach and just listening, enjoying dinner with friends, going for bike rides, sitting around a campfire, going to a Brewers game, visiting my niece at college, re-connecting with past customers and old friends, and laughing.

Now is the time for you to slow down. Take a break. Relax.

What are you waiting for??

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.

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...

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