583 days.

By
Real Estate Agent with Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 MD594797

583 days. That is not the DOM (days-on-market) of a property I looked at (although I have seen a few homes that have lingered on the market for that long in years past) but the number of days I did not get to see my family. 

 

The Covid-19 pandemic kept me busy, Real Estate was hopping, the kids were distant-learning from home, and we added a new puppy to the mix. But still, my heart was always missing a piece. 

 

For so many years - two decades now - I have lived in the US and traveled back to Germany once or twice a year... never once considering that I may not be allowed to do so one day. 

 

Never once did it occur to me that international borders could be shut down and we would have no way to get to our family, and no idea when it would be possible again. 

 

When you have aging parents, one with Parkinson's disease, fear sets in and what-if thoughts creep up on the daily. 

 

Today though, my heart is all smiles. After 583 days I got to hug my parents again and marvel over how much taller my nephews have gotten. After 583 days I am back at my old desk in my old room overlooking the castle that dates back to 1736 (the old tower and church on the castle grounds are from the 12th century), checking emails, following up on a contract and doing some research to point a seller client in the right direction. 

 

If there is one thing I would like for you all to take away from this post, then it is this: make time to hug your family. 

Andrea Bedard, German speaking Realtor in the US

P.S. the Real Estate market in Germany has been just as hot! Inventory is limited, bidding wars and escalations the norm. Interest rates, however, are even lower - much lower - imagine that! 

Posted by

Andrea Bedard
Thompson Co., REALTORS®

Silver Spring, Maryland
andreabedard.com

Fluent in Real Estate and German.
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Comments (8)

Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Andrea, SO SO happy for you, give them hugs often while you are visiting, and enjoy!!!   Life is so precious, and your parents won't around forever.

Aug 11, 2021 12:44 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Lucky, lucky you, Andrea! I haven't seen my family in Russia in two years come October and it will be a while before I do!

Aug 11, 2021 02:07 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Andrea,

I am so delighted for you.  I had the pleasure of hugging my niece and her fiancée in June.  They are in London now, as they are working on a visa to get back to the US so he can become a US citizen.  My nephew will be out to perch for a couple days from Minnesota with his bride.  It  has been good to hug family and friends.  A

Aug 11, 2021 03:04 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Andrea - good for you and your message is an important one.  Enjoy your time with family.  

Aug 12, 2021 05:13 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

How wonderful that you were able to finally get to see your family! I bet those hugs lasted a long time.

Aug 12, 2021 05:19 AM
Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I am so glad that you finally got to see your family again, hug your parents, and see the progress of your nephews.  There is nothing quite the same as being able to physically be close to those that we care most about.

Aug 12, 2021 06:03 AM
Rocky Dickerson
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Superior Service!

Hey there Andrea! Germany has interest rates much lower than we do? No wonder they have a hot market

Aug 12, 2021 10:04 AM
Andrea Bedard

1 - 2% Rocky Dickerson! It's also fairly common to only lock-in for a few years vs. 30 year mortgages.


On the other hand, if you have some money in the bank, they may be charging you for keeping it there (and not infusing it into the German economy). There's always a flip side, isn't there?! 

Aug 31, 2021 09:22 AM
Andrea Bedard
Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD
Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Thank you all! I decided to unplug (except for moving my transactions forward) and focus on making memories with the family. It was wonderful, and very much needed.  

I appreciate your comments, and will catch up on everyones blogs soon! 

Aug 31, 2021 09:25 AM