This last year, (or 2 years if I'm really expressing the truth) has been a very challenging market. As a realtor I have been forced to learn about things I never dreamed of knowing. Until this market hit, I had never had a buyer use an FHA or VA loan. Until this market hit, I never saw 50 offers on one house. Until this market hit, I never had a commission below $2000! Until this market, I had never listed a property for a bank. I didn't even know the terms "short sale" or " REO!"
I have been a realtor since 2003 and my business partner since 2000. I have been forced, by this market to become a better, more knowledgeable realtor. I have taken class after class to fully embrace what this market has to offer, and just about the time I feel I understand it, the cycle will be all new and the learning curve will start all over again.
Here's what I learned:
On Friday, I closed an escrow that brought me to my knees with joy. My partner and I had started working with this client about a month ago. He was a young father who tragically lost his young wife to a drunk driver nearly 5 years ago. He was left to care for his 4 young children, emotionally and physically. Five years have passed, and he found love again, and two additional children with that union. I am certain there was a power greater than ours, working with us. We had a property we had listed and sold for a bank that suddenly fell out of escrow! It was perfect for them...even the location and number of bedrooms!
Offer excepted, it was a 3 week escrow, and Friday we celebrated with balloons, sparkling cider, parents, kids, and dogs! I was in tears so many times that day, thinking about how this young family had been given a chance to find joy again.
It struck me that only in this market could that young family have afforded this house. Only in this market would I have listed a bank owned property. And most of all, because of this market, I learned that everything seems to come at the right time. Even this market.
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