Hello ActiveRain Members,

 It has been a very long time since I came to visit my old friends.  A lot of things have been happening and I wish it was because I was so busy with helping people buy and sell real estate. 

It has been a rough year here in Tucson for Realtors, and Mortgage Lenders alike.   I started my licensing courses this same time last year.  Eager to save the first time home buyers from making huge mistakes in their home purchasing, I knew I wouldn't fail as a Real Estate Agent.  I was friendly, likable, and I thought, pretty darn smart.  I signed up as a team member to two very successful realtors who wanted to help me get my business started.  Little did I see that one wanted to make me an assistant, one wanted to make me a partner.  The conflict soon got the best of me, and I went out to venture on my own.

I was so scared and nervous, I wasn't supposed to be doing it solo yet.  What, 90 hours and I am supposed to be a pro at this and have all the answers?  I had a great brokerage who was handing me clients once a week. For some strange reason though, I couldn't convince them to buy what was available, or they were SO excited about the property we just saw, but couldn't find financing.  I thought it was my closing skills, or my image, or (heaven forbid) my skill level. 

So, I went to my broker, and wanted more training. I took class after class, took my first listing and realized how much EASIER at the time the listing was.  That is....until it didn't sell.  

I watched as my mentors started bailing out of Real Estate.  These were very good agents who just hadn't seen the turn in the market that came so fast.  Those who were wise and saved their money two years ago, found that this was their "rainy day".  Those who were foolish, were kicking themselves for the situation.  I supposed those who survive are the agents who understand that real estate always has ups and downs, just like any market or stock.    

Buyer after buyer changed their minds or the home they needed to sell to move on just sat on the market, until the price was lower than what they owed.  I have seen some subdivisions loose as much as 40,000 in price here in Tucson.  I am sure that is nothing compared to other parts of the country, but we were supposed to be the "good" market. We didn't have many employers pulling out, our economy seemed to be doing fine.

Is there any other way through real estate besides the school of hard knocks?   I did have one closing this year, a painful ordeal because the seller really couldn't part with the house, but was too cheap to just try and get out the contract.  So he made our life miserable even until the day AFTER signing when he wouldn't hand over the keys and was threatening us.  (Another Blog, perhaps) 

So I have been a lost ship for the past few months, not wanted to keep pushing at something that wasn't working for me, yet not wanting to give up on my dream.  I took a second full time job for 6 weeks, thinking the paychecks would make the difference.  It didn't, I realized all I wanted to do was work real estate, while I sat there trying to help production levels for an ebay store.  I hated every minute and the employer and I both agreed it wasn't for me and we parted ways.  I left that day thinking that this was my second chance, my breath of fresh air, to jump back in the market in Tucson, no matter how stormy it was.  That is, until my husband came home and said we were getting detailed to New Mexico for a year.  

I am leaving the Tucson market, but as soon as I can get my New Mexico Associate Broker license I will be hitting the streets in Roswell, NM and the surrounding areas.  I will be there a year, but it could be extended farther than that.  The wonderful thing about being an agent, is that you can be an agent anywhere.  I am back to Active Rain, blogging about my thoughts and experiences, but it will be new experiences and insights as I explore the areas of New Mexico.  

Thank you EVERYONE to missed me while I have been gone.  I appreciate especially Mike Jones in Tucson trying to spur me into writing another post.  I know this blog doesn't have a lot of pictures and flashes, and too many words, but sometimes words are all you need.  

Take care,

Lexa