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Spreading Compassion Throughout the Land - Norma Toering REMAX Palos Verdes

By Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Charlemagne International Properties BRE# 01147470

March 14, 2009 05:43 AM

If Warren Buffet is correct in his proclamation of the "...the economy has fallen off a cliff..." I think the one thing the jobless and foreclosed upon members of humanity need is compassion. They need others to feel their pain, and realize misfortune and hard times do not always happen to the other guy.

Yesterday, as I showed foreclosures and short sales, I could not help but notice the sadness in the owner's eyes as they opened the door to allow strangers in a home they do not want to leave. Signs of departure were easy to detect--boxes filled with a few favorite toys and trash bags filled with clothes. A dream gone wrong and packed away.

The homes already vacant had telltale signs of a displaced family. Toys left behind, a cat's sorrowful meow as it pleaded to come inside. Weeds gone wild filled the lawns and cast their power of devaluation over the neighborhood.

The causalities of the economic war are strewn from coast to coast. We must not let the large number numb our hearts or deaden our ability to show compassion for their plight. As a real estate agent I am on the front-line. I've heard the story of how it happened, I've seen the tears and I've witnessed the pain of loss.

It will not go away any time soon, but a little more compassion will make it easier to bear. Reach out and lend a hand.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

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Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Norma, I would be so tempted to take the poor cat home with me!

Mar 14, 2009 05:50 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Patricia - Someone is feeding the cat but it is still hoping to see a familiar face.

Mar 14, 2009 05:54 AM

Vickie McCartney

Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY

Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Norma~ It just breaks my heart for these displaced homeowners. I can only hope that they have family and friends that are helping them through these difficult times....

Mar 14, 2009 05:55 AM

Kathy Passarette

Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY

L.I. Staging/Decorating

Norma ~ Sadly, some people are affected with more than losing their homes. I was reminded of this, this morning, when I went to the supermarket. A local boy scout troop was collecting food for the food pantries here. Many people who would never have thought they would be visiting a food pantry are. While picking up the few things I needed, I added two cans of food to my cart to drop off on the way out. I think I might just start picking up a few extra things when I go shopping to drop off at my local food pantry.

Mar 14, 2009 05:55 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Vickie - I think many of them are dependent upon the kindness of strangers. If we are all a bit more compassionate and giving it will make a huge difference in the lives of many.

Mar 14, 2009 06:03 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Kathy - That's shopping with compassion, and if most shoppers donate a can or two of food those empty food banks will soon be replenished.

Mar 14, 2009 06:07 AM

Kate Bourland

Marketing with Kate - Redding, CA

Onlilne Marketing Mobile Marketing

Thank you for this post Norma. The written word of blame, shame and finger pointing is sometimes hard to take. Compassion and understanding is extremely important. Great post.

Mar 14, 2009 06:09 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Thanks Kate. Yes, the downcast eyes at house after house was an uncomfortable experience.

Mar 14, 2009 06:17 AM

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Norma..What a beautiful blog...sad times are apon us ... sad but true...:0(

Mar 14, 2009 06:21 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Hannah -- Thank you, and offering our help and compassion is the first step in easing the difficult times.

Mar 14, 2009 06:28 AM

Sharon Richards

Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Norma - Thanks for bringing to our attention to remember others who need help. Also, it is so sad to see the children losing their pets. In our area, we have been busy with finding homes for pets who lost their home and the pets can not move with their families.

Mar 14, 2009 06:31 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Sharon - Keep up the good work and know you are making a difference.

Mar 14, 2009 06:40 AM

Bob & Carolin Benjamin

Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ

East Phoenix Arizona Homes

There are signs of this all over -- it is simply sad -- there is no other word for it that we know.

Mar 14, 2009 07:00 AM

Linda Bourgault

lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Hi Norma—I didn't lose my home to foreclosure, but as a loss mitigator I had to negotiate the short sale on my home. I tried to hold on to my home after my husband died, but I couldn't make it on one income after several months. My neighbors, some of them, were still nice to me, but others ranted at me in the street... "You are ruining out property values!" Then they wanted entry into my home to "scope out cheap deals" becasue they knew I was moving. People I had helped or was very nice to for years turned their backs on me. It was difficult enough being thousands of miles away from my family and dealing with the aftermath of death while in ill health myself. I cried many times wondering what had happend to all of my nice neighbors.

Compassion costs nothing, but is priceless to people in such sad and challenging circumstances. Thank you for your timely and much needed post!

Mar 14, 2009 09:47 AM

Alexsandra Stewart

Remax equity group - Portland, OR

Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

Ahhh Norma -- your portrait of the displaced family home was vivid. There is so much pain of displacement and unrealized dreams of home out there. and we do need your reminder to not go about the ordinary daily life. Eyes and hearts open, yes!

Mar 15, 2009 08:46 AM