BE THE LION

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I’ve struggled most of my life with not having a voice.

I was the kid that would shrink into a corner and avoid conflict at all cost. I felt incapable of standing up for myself to the point of destruction.

And on top of that, I’ve always been a people pleaser so my needs and desires took the back seat to everyone else.

But just the other day a dear friend reminded me that I HAD found my voice after all.

Let me tell you the story she reminded me of.

A couple of years ago we were at a women’s conference together. It was the opening session of the conference and we were in a large room with about 100+ people.

The woman speaking was presenting her original art work when suddenly she pointed to me from across the room and said she wanted me to have this painting.

I was dumbstruck.

She said God pinpointed me for this painting and that she hoped it spoke to me the way it spoke to her when she was creating it.

I love the colors, the imagery and the shofar intertwined into the image. The lion is mighty and brave. He looks after his family with fierce loyalty. And he is free.

Be the lion.

Financial Goals

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Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Just because you are approved for a loan for $500,000 doesn’t mean that you should spend that much.

Let’s walk through this together.

You’ve finally got the home of your dreams, but you had to max out your budget to get it. What might you have to give up to have that home

vacations

savings

college funds

retirement

fun family experiences

These all might be on the chopping block... and before you know it you might find yourself in financial bondage.

This house, the one you are in, or the one you are buying is likely NOT your forever home.

Homeownership is a process of stepping stones, each time you get more of what you desire. So hold off on maxing out your home budget and remember all the other financial goals you have.

FAMILY

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This morning my youngest climbed in to bed with me for a quick snuggle before school. As I marveled at this perfect human being, I realized how divinely we have been created.

The folded arm of a parent is a perfect pillow for a snuggling child.

The distance between a mothers shoulder and elbow is perfect for cradling a nursing infant.

The distance between a childs hip, knee and ankle is perfect for riding on a fathers shoulders.

And a child fits perfectly into the shape of a sleeping parent for the best cuddles.

God made us to need each other. He made us to be together. He made our bodies and minds perfectly paired so that we could coexist with love, support and compassion. Not by chance, but by perfect design.

I am so grateful for my family - they are what matters most.

Let's Talk About Shoes

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It’s all in the footwear.

Remember when you were a kid and you got a new pair of shoes and adults would say, “I bet you can run extra fast in those new shoes!”

And depending on your age, you did run faster (or at least you thought you did).

Funny thing, this still applies as an adult

When we stay home and I have lots to do, the footwear I choose for the day dictates how much I am going to get done.

On the days that I go with the sneaks, I get tons done. The days I go with the slippers…. not so much!

Coal - My Best Pet

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Tell me about your best pet.

Here’s mine (well he was actually Bill’s), Coal.

Bill got Coal one week before we met . It was just the three of us for quite some time, though his “person” was Bill without a doubt, I was just along for the ride.

He was a spectacular dog overall, aside from the time he pulled our Christmas ham off the counter and when he chewed up one of my bras (a little jealous I think).

He lived to the ripe old age of 15…. I still miss him.

And these two kitties are my very close runner up. Macy and Sam - they will always be special to me, though we only had them for a short time.

Beauty In Cracked Marbles

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My grandmother loved to make cracked marbles.

She would heat them carefully in a pot on the stove at just the right temperature. Too hot and they would be destroyed, not enough heat and they would be unchanged.

She took something ordinary and common and turned them into tiny gems. They turned from regular marbles to sparkling, complex and beautiful treasures.

Elizabeth found the stash of marbles that my grandmother gave me and is now following in her footsteps by making jewelry out of them.

It’s interesting to me that life is a little like those cracked marbles.

That the beauty and uniqueness is revealed in change.

And that sometimes, it’s in our cracks and brokenness that we discover the most about ourselves.

Telling A Cold, Hard Truth

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You’ve all seen it.

American Idol auditions gone bad.

They are cringe-worth at best. I find myself squirming in my seat, its perplexing, strangely fascinating and downright sad.

The worst part is when the families greet the crestfallen contestant with soothing words of comfort. “Oh, sweetie, those judges don’t know a thing. You are the best signer in the world!”

This is the part that drives me insane

Why lie to these poor people? They are terrible singers and NEVER should have auditioned for the show.

Telling someone the cold hard truth is sometimes very hard. You don’t want to hurt their feelings, crush their dreams or seem insensitive.

But your honesty is sometimes the most important thing they need to hear.

A couple of years ago I met with a very nice family who wanted to sell their home and move out of state. The winters were getting tough for them and they were having some health issues.

Selling was a must.

I met them at their house and noticed right away this was going to be a tough property. There was stuff everywhere, inside and out. The house was dirty, dark, and falling apart.

They gave me the grand tour and we sat down to talk. I asked them about their goals and timeline for selling their home. They needed to be out of here by September which only gave us 3 months to sell. They were short on time, money and resources to get their home ready for market.

They looked at me with hope in their eyes and asked what was next.

This was the moment for the cold hard truth.

When I first started in real estate I probably would have tried to gloss things over and ease the blow. “No, its not that bad, buyers can look past your stuff.”

Now I know better.

People hire me for my professional and honest advice. This family had a tight timeframe and a pressing need to leave the area.

So I told them the truth.

That no one would buy their home in its current condition. And because we were dealing with a very tight timeframe they were going to need to price their home much below market value to get it sold quickly.

I said all of these things with tenderness and grace, because I very much care about how my words make people feel.

At the end of our meeting they thanked me for my encouraging words.

What?

I didn’t think I sounded encouraging at all, but then I recognized it was the honesty and a thoughtful game plan that gave them feelings of encouragement.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but I believe if you really care for someone you owe them the truth and nothing but.

REAL ESTATER

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I was called a “real estater” the other day.

Not Realtor, not real estate agent, a real estater.

And it reminded me that there are still so many people who don’t fully understand what I do. I mean lots of people think all I do is open doors and go out to lunch with my clients!

Whether I am working with a buyer or seller my hope is that I am brining years of experience and connections to the table.

  • Recommending pre-listing repairs for the biggest bang for your buck.

  • Connecting you with experts in their fields for pre-purchase inspections.

  • Coordinating with the title company to resolve unreleased liens.

  • Brainstorming with the lender when we have an issue on the appraisal.

  • Inside knowledge on things like well depth/quality or feisty HOA’s.

  • Negotiating on your behalf when inspections items come up.

  • Accurate pricing for the maximum return on investment in the shortest amount of time.

  • Getting you the winning offer when you are competing against many other buyers.

  • And sometimes being a shoulder to cry on, real estate can put you through the ringer.

With gratitude.

The "Olden Days"

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The “old 80’s”.

This is what my kids call it.

This must be akin to what I would call the “olden days” when I was a kid.

Oh, how I miss the 80’s. The music , no cell phones, great toys, and what seems like easier times.

A couple of years ago I was talking with some of my clients who were 80 and 82 at the time. I was lamenting about the past and specifically the 80’s. How it was the best decade EVER.

They wholeheartedly disagreed.

The 50’s were their favorite decade.

And then I realized, its not so much the decade we mourn, but who we were then.

At the beginning of the 80’s I was a young child and I transitioned into a teenager by 1989.

These were some of the best years of my life, and right now it’s comforting to think about the past and how maybe things DID seemed more carefree back then.

What was your favorite decade?

I think this is the same tree, located in the park right off Hwy 24 in Buena Vista

Serenity Now

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Serenity Now.

Let’s face it, buying a home can be stressful. There’s a lot going on in a short amount of time and big decisions are being made.

But here’s one decision that should be easy - getting a professional home inspection.

Buyers ask me all the time if they should get an inspection and I always answer with a resounding YES!

However, I know that some buyers are capable of doing their own inspections and some want to save a little money and not hire the professional.

I can understand both of these sentiments.

However, if you think of a home inspection like to do insurance, you will see the value. If you could insure a $300,000 house for $600 would you do it? Of course!

A home inspection is your “try before you buy” insurance.

Bring some peace to your home buying experience and go with the professional home inspection.

Big No-no's When Buying A House

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OOPS!!  6 big no-no’s when buying a house

  1. Not getting pre-approved. In this market sellers won’t even consider your offer without a lender letter.

  2. Maxing out your budget. If things in your life go sideways you need to be able to handle unexpected expenses and maxing out your mortgage is a no-no.

  3. Skipping the fine print. Do you have a prepayment penalty or an variable rate on your mortgage? Its important to know before hand the terms and conditions of your loan.

  4. Making decisions from the heart instead of the head. This one is soooo hard. But try and take the emotion out of the equation.

  5. Not factoring in other expenses such as HOA fees or mortgage insurance.

  6. Not protecting your credit score before closing. This is not the time to take out a loan for a new car or furniture for your new home.

I Was The Tall Kid

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I was the tall kid.

And it didn’t real phase me until fifth grade.

That’s when I suddenly realized I was taller than most of the boys and nearly all of the girls.

I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. I just wanted to be short and tiny like all my friends. I struggled finding jeans that didn’t look like I was wearing capris all the time. I hunched down and tried to hide.

The worst was picture day when we had to line up by height. There was only one boy taller than me. One girl and I constantly argued about who was shorter. Who would stand next to Matt, me or her?

It was humiliating. And so pointless. As if I had control over my height.

My daughters are tall - go figure.

And I have yet to hear any of the negative soundtracks that played in my mind on repeat from them. I’m so grateful, maybe being tall is now cool.

And I love being tall now, though I still struggle finding jeans that are long enough.

I'm Sorry

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I’m sorry.

Two small and simple words but sometimes they are so hard to say AND sometimes they are so hard to receive too.

Saying sorry is a skill. You will likely learn how to say sorry (or not say sorry) from someone close to you.

I wasn’t always good at saying sorry, and truth be told there are still times it’s still hard.

BUT these two little words have a way of setting you free.

Now, they don’t erase your misstep or words spoken in anger, but they will begin to build a tiny bridge between you and that other person.

Those two little words have a way of unburdening you of your shame and guilt so you don’t have to carry that heavy load anymore.

And when you can get to the place where “I’m sorry” is the next step you might feel a lightness you didn’t feel before.

I don’t underestimate the importance of being able to say sorry and accept an apology - being able to do so is a journey in becoming your best self.

With gratitude.

Buying vs Renting

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Buying vs Renting in today’s market. Which is better?

There are pros and cons to both. But here’s a couple of key points.

  • When you own your landlord can’t raise your rent.

  • When you own your landlord can’t put your rental on the market.

  • When you own you are building equity and wealth for YOU.

  • When you rent and the sewer line fails is not your problem.

  • When you rent you are not in a “committed relationship” with your home.

  • When you rent you are paying 100% interest rate. Say what? Yes, your rent is 0% to principal and 100% to your landlord.

Homeownership doesn’t have to be out of reach, no matter what you tell yourself. I have great strategies and resources for first time buyers to overcome the fear of buying a home.

Negotiation Inspections

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I’m going to tell you a little secret: Negotiating inspection items can be a bit tricky.

Shows like Million Dollar Listing have not helped either. I cannot tell you how many times the agent on TV says, “We will just get the seller at inspection”. Yeah, it doesn’t work that way.

The purpose of the inspection is to reveal items that cannot be seen with the naked eye or issues that only a thorough home inspection would find.

In other words, the giant carpet stain you saw during the showing is not something that should end up on your list of inspection requests.

For the best results stick to health and safety issues.

And remember, it doesn’t hurt to ask for the things that are important to you. The seller cannot “ditch” you because you sent over a list of inspection requests. All they can do is say no.

If you have kept your list to major items that “any reasonable buyer” would find objectionable the seller is probably going to agree with you.

One of my biggest roles in a real estate transaction is helping you through this process whether you are the buyer or the seller.