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When you walk the same walk as your clients.. The Twilight Zone of Real Estate

I love my house... I feel so blessed to be close to Folsom Lake. But I will not be able to stay in the area where I grew up. I fall into the category of buying on the high wave and now I am under the surf. I paid my mortgage on time every month. I had great credit. Unfortunately, I have fallen into the "Twilight Zone of Real Estate". 29 years as a teacher with salary cuts... Too bad!

What do you do? Here I am trying to help the market, trying to help homeowners keep their homes... when I am in in the same boat. It gives me extra compassion to my clients and to the market. But, what about me? I have a great short sale specialist, so you don't need to go there. I have done everything that I need to do for a Loan modification... yet, I am still waiting. I will be OK, no matter what happens. But it does give me the insight as to what my clients go through. It is heart wrenching and very degrading. I surely hope that any of us here on ActiveRain remember compassion for our clients who are going through this... as well as many of us who never thought it could happen.

As for me... I am happy with my animals, my friends, staging for my clients, and hope.... hope that this market will get better for us all. Am I giving up? No way... give me a cardboard box, a plug in for my hair dryer, and internet... I am good to go!

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Lori Kim Polk is the Founder and Lead Designer of Artful Journey Designs and Staging, a full service Home Staging and Design Corporation combined with Ryan Dressel from Stage Right Design located in Roseville, California. Recently featured in Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, KFBK radio and SMUD's Home of the Future. We proudly service Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento and surrounding areas.

Call us today at 916-300-0402 or 916-517-5710 for our premier services. "The art of selling your home!"

Posted by Lori Kim Polk, Roseville, Sacramento Home Stager on 08/02/2009 10:59 PM

Comments (25)

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25 Comments on When you walk the same walk as your clients.. The Twilight Zone of Real Estate

AUG

Lori ~ Knowing you and your positive spirit, you will come through this experience stronger and better for it. Any time a road block causes us to pause along the way, we have an opportunity to explore something new. Sometimes the "new way" turns out to be so much better -- even if it's scary at first. Hang in there, keep doing what you're doing, and know that you're not alone. You have a lot of support among everyone who knows you!

Maureen... I truly thank you for your support. Outside of this I am strong and positive... but inside I feel like I have failed almost. Was I stupid... No, I don't think so. It is what it is.... I will survive, but it sure is nice to have support and positive energy. It changes your whole view on helping others in this market. When you have lived it... you can understand. Thank you my friend.

Things do happen and bad things happen to good people too. Many of us are going thru life changing events and will come out stronger for it and yes a bit wiser, I hope.

AUG

Lori, your strong, giving, positive attitude will guide you through this rough period. How wonderful that in the midst of the situation you post about being positive and "you will survive". You have turned your experience into showing compassion for others. I admire your positive spirit and I have no doubt you will come out on top!! Sending many positive thoughts and prayers your way to get you through the tough days. Your positive attitude is an inspiration!

Lori, I wish you good fortune in your situation. Many people were caught up in the downturn through no fault of their own.

Like the others have said - you're an extremely strong person. I have no doubt that you'll weather this storm.

Kathy

Stay strong and positive -- you are a fighter and as you know, when one door closes another door opens! It is nothing you did, and nothing you could prevent and the fact that you are using the experience to pass good on to others is just one reason why you will survive this with success.

May you not only survive , but thrive! :) I have tons of faith in you :))

Lori Kim, having been there myself I can tell you that everything will come out just fine. Mine was not in this market but almost 20 years ago when mortgage rates were in the 18-20% range and we "gave back the rental property" to the bank. It has caused some glitches in finances but we're as strong as ever. DO NOT let this get you down, it is not your fault. Head up, stay strong and since school is starting soon you're focus will change.

Heck you can always come to "the real twilight zone" (my neck of the woods). The guest house is empty, we have WiFi, right now 14 cats (8 kittens so plenty of room for more animals), Bass Lake just 5 miles away AND you could help me change some attitudes about staging...(-:

Lori - I feel your pain. My husband's company just had a round of layoffs and while he wasn't on the list, we know another round is coming. With 2 kids getting ready to move out, we decided now is the time to sell our home - just in case. Downsizing actually makes sense for us anyway as there aren't as many of us living here anymore and frankly I don't have the time to take care of a big house as much as I work these days.

Preparing and keeping a home for sale is frustrating and a lot of hard work. Still we understand it is what is necessary to sell it for top dollar in today's market. A positive outlook also is very important. It seems like you have that.

I wish you only the best. I'm sure whatever happens you'll land on your feet..... I've always been a firm believer that whatever looked like the worst thing ever to happen has always turned into some of my biggest opportunities for success.

Lori Kim, doing your best in this situation is placing you for the best in the next situation and it is going to get better!! Have faith and never, never loose faith!!

Hey, Lori Kim - I have a few friends who went through the same thing, one still going through it, so although I don't have person experience, their experience has affected me because we don't go out to have fun like we used to. I know you'll come through. I'll be thinking of you.

Hey girl - I was just passing through your next of the woods yesterday on the way home from Tahoe - I wish I stopped by to say hello. Sorry to hear what you are going through. Crazy times right now - but we will all make it through and be better for it some how. You know where we are if you want to get away for a few days - We now have 3 dogs and 3 cats so you will have lots of company - your room is always waiting.

hugs, Kym

Lori, We are right there with you. We are working to get our home ready for spring market. Our health insurance has gone up to a $1000.00 per month. Something has to give! But like others have commented hang on, we all will make it through. I agree...if I have to live in a box then so be it. I still have my family and friends. Those are two things this economy can't take away from me!

Lori, you are such a talented, positive and strong person and I know that you will get through this! This economy and working with home sellers in this market has made me refocus on the things that are most important- faith, family, health, friendships. This too will turn around and you will come out of this even stronger. xxoo kh

Wow... thank you so much everyone. Yes, I am trying to stay positive. I feel so blessed by all your kind and supportive words. Unfortunatley, it IS comforting to know that I am not alone in this. That it has affected even the best of us. I will keep you all posted. My best, to all of you, and to everyone else who is going through similar times.....

Lori, I get it! We have been waiting and waiting for a loan mod for almost three months now. My husband works for the FAA and had a contract forceplaced on him with less money every year for three years and no raises in site. This is the third year of the reduction and we are totally feeling it, what with real estate being what it is now.

But guess what... we're gonna make it and so are you! Like Kate said, refocusing on faith, family friends, and health will get you through this and ready for the BETTER times ahead!

Hi Lori -

I have been thinking about this blog of yours all day. I wanted to make sure I posted a comment that was helpful, as well as comforting.

I have been displaced 6 times in my life from my residence for various reasons, mostly hurricanes. I lost everything I ever owned, except my life and the lives of my pets, and a box of photos and memories I thankfully always dragged with me.

The town I lived in for over 10 years, Crystal Beach, Texas was nearly wiped off the map by Hurricane Ike after taking a devastating hit by Rita the year before. So it wasn't just me, it was a handful of a thousand of my dearest friends, and some of my own family, pushed out by the tides of life.

We all got together one night, not too long ago. It was amazing to hear their tales of survival, perserverance, and most of all, how successful they were now, after starting from scratch. Some of them were completely reinvented. It was as if that hurricane woke them up.

Our sleepy little community of beach-bums and city rejects is gone forever. The town may rebuild, but the people that comprised the population have made lives elsewhere. It will be a magnet for new people, living in new buildings and starting new businesses. It's not my beach anymore, although I still own the land.

It sounds so sad, and it is in a way, but in another way, most of us got out alive, we started over, and we are all stronger and more resilient than ever. We mourn who and what we lost, but life's too short and too beautiful not to be grateful and content right in the face of tragedy and loss. And we are all apparently where we are supposed to be.

So slog on thru the muck. It will wash off your shoes, I promise you.

~Michelle

I honestly don't know which part of this discussion is better: Lori Kim's message of compassion, or all of the compassion and support being given back to her. While I haven't met most of you in person, I get a real sense of people who are really "givers". I think Stagers are just simply a wonderful, nice, giving group of people, and all of these messages really prove it.

Hang in there Lori; as everyone has said, a brighter day is ahead. You really have your priorities straight, which will serve you well. Best of luck.

Lori Kim, I am so sad to hear that you are in this boat along with so many during these hard times. I can only say that my thoughts are with you, hoping for a good turnout in all of this. The good news is that if anyone can sell their home for a good price, it's a talented home stager like yourself! And it's so true that it gives you a whole new perspective on what so many of our clients are going through. I'm sure your empathy will win you many jobs if that's any consolation. Hugs and all the best to you!

AUG

Lori, you continue to be an inspiration to us all. What grace and generous spirit you always share. I'm sorry this is happening. May this could have the most beautiful silver lining! Sending big hugs!

Lori, things will right themselves. You seem to be a terrific and strong woman who knows what is truly important. My heart goes out to you and your family, here's a hug.

LKP: Sorry you find yourself in this difficult position. It stinks that you got caught up in the mortgage mess and the California budget mess. I know you will sail through these difficult waters with grace and your head held high. I was glad to hear you talk about seeing a silver lining. I hope these hard times pass quickly and you get to that silver lining all the more quickly. Good luck, my friend.

SEP

Lori Kim my thoughts are with you & I apologize for how long it's taken me to read this. It pains me when bad things happen to good, hardworking people and your compassion for others and the bravery you show here by sharing your struggle with others speaks volumes of who you are as a person. Keep the faith dear Lori Kim and know that others are lifting you up in prayer.

SEP

Lori, I have just read your blog and am so sorry to hear about these struggles. Everyone here knows how strong,compassionate and positive you are and I can only add to that by commenting that while you made yourself totally available to actively support me as a newbie stager with my own trials and tribulations, I never suspected that any of this was going on. You are a top-notch admirable professional with an upbeat attitude as an example for all of us to strive for and follow! If anyone can weather this storm and see the light beyond it's you. Good luck, dear friend.

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