A couple of weeks ago I picked up a new client from a sign call. Even though they were in their mid 50's they were first time home buyers.

At the first contact, the husband appeared to be a big gruff guy, guarded and jaded but the wife was a delight from the first moment. Not deterred, before long we bonded. They wanted a small home and wanted to pay cash. We made an offer and it was countered and rejected. We forged on and found "the one" three days later.

During the course of conversation I learned that Debbie was ill and had been through several bouts of cancer and Lupus and her future was uncertain. As Dan told me the story a tear formed in the eye of this big tough marshmallow in the middle man. He shared with me that Debbie wanted a home and Dan's only wish was to buy her one, his only goal to make her happy. I knew right then and there that I would help find them a house.

These folks didn't have a lot of money and some Realtor's might have blown them off, but not me. On Valentines Day we got our second offer accepted. I called to tell them and told him that the acceptance of the offer was his Valentines Day present to Debbie. He said he had been to the store earlier that day, purchased a card and then sat in the car for four hours trying to express in words his sentiments of love for her.

We signed on the home today and I have never seen two more thankful and excited people. After signing, Dan sheepishly pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and handed me a card. Inside the card were two one hundred dollars bills and this sentiment:

Cecily

"Thank you so much for all the hard work & butt kissing that you have done for the two of us! You will always be with us. You are so pretty and have a great sense of humor and a powerful determination. I hope your future and life go great guns! Enjoyed you and Jim (The home inspector, and our own Active Rainer, Jim Allhiser, Perfection Inspection, Inc) so much and I can't remember when I've laughed so hard. Thank You again."

All our best forever,

Deb & Dan

This, my friends is the reason we do this job.

The price of this manufactured home: $34,500.

My fee: $1575 + a $200 "feeling the love" bonus.

The feeling of helping wonderful people like this buy a home and realize a dream: Blissful.

The love between this couple and the look on their face when they were handed the key: Priceless.