Everywhere you look there is doom and gloom and the Democrats are blaming the Republicans, hard to
figure they control congress but easy when the other party is in the White House. Can't say either deserve our votes.
Doesn't matter to me, I think they all screwed up and left America holding the bag! Or should I say the bill.
So why smile? Simple, in every market someone figures out how to sell and help people that need help. This market is no exception. It isn't easy but you can st
ill have a great year. You can still list and you can still sell homes.
Today I got a big hug from a seller that thought there wasn't an honest Realtor left! Anyway, that is what she told me. She lost her job...her husband has lost three jobs in three years. Not because they were fired. No, they wanted to work. The jobs were out sourced and their jobs were gone. She worked for the same nursing home but under three different names (owners) in the last four years. So why did she equate honesty and selling? She didn't...she wanted someone to listen and help her family. Nobody was listening or would help unless, in her mind she had some big fancy home with a big paycheck attached to it. Little did she know her price range is what is selli
ng.
This past week she was told they are consolidating shifts. Her and six others would lose their jobs because they had the lowest time with the company. She had been there six years. She was devastated. Her husband out of work, supplemented with his McDonald jobs, she was barely making food and gas now this.
She called 12 real estate companies and nobody called her back! She wanted to sell her home. One company answered and told her they were not taking any more listing because nothing is selling! I didn't ask who...I was tempted. 
I was caught off guard when I received the call and the woman said don't hang up...I want to sell my house! I laughed and said, "why would that make me hang up"? She said the last place told her they weren't taking anymore listings and nobody else is calling back. "OK, so why would I hang up?....Other than you didn't call me first"! Then she laughed and said, "is selling homes that hard"?
I explained we have a challenging market so homes have to be priced right or they are not going to sell. If you want to sell we will price your home correctly and somebody will purchase your home...that is how it works.
It turns out to be a short sale. It also turns out that she is in financial trouble and her husband is beside himself, he has always been able to provide for his family. He took a job a McDonald's to keep some money 
coming in...two different McDonald's, different shifts. That told me a lot.
So why smile? These people kept track of their gas costs for their vehicles to drive to work...$623.00 for the month...they sold a car. They had a yard sale, they are doing what they have to do. I have to tell you it was a very humbling experience to offer these people help and tell them that they would get a dime at close from the sale. I told them I would work with the lender to see if I could get the lender to accept the short sale amount as payment in full. They were thrilled that I would come out to see them. They were also happy that the lender could be paid. You have to smile when you meet people like this. They are losing everything but they still have their dignity and honesty in tack and are thankful.
So why smile? It is simple, in every market, if you are willing to find the methods to sell, homes will still sell. In one market we had interest rates of 18-21% it wasn't easy but home still sold. In this market you have to look for the niches and work them. It isn't easy but homes will sell.
Sellers want to sell and buyers want to buy. Our job is to facilitate the two of them. I have already showed this home 4 times from my list of buyers...one looks like it is going to work. Does the seller care who buys? NOPE! Do the buyers want a good buy? YUP! Keep smiling, working the market. You'll sell homes and make people happy, you'll be smiling too with paycheck in hand!
Are you smiling? Are you helping people understand the market? It is perspective. It is a head game....get your head in the game.
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