Times are changing and moving faster than I’ve seen in my 32 year career as a Realtor. There is an ebb and flow to the real estate market. It almost has its own pulse and mood swings. To be sure, one must be an observer to understand the market’s character and depth of soul.

I know this sounds like you and me. It sounds like the real estate market has a body and soul. It sounds like someone you might know. If you think about it long enough, any market is made up of one main ingredient…us!

To understand real estate is to understand the human psyche, because the market is made up of people who collectively move prices, commodities, and in the end the fears, hopes and desires of those who enter into it. If fear and uncertainty are dominant, prices may move quickly in either direction. When times are more predictable, prices stay more stable. Where is the real estate market today, and where is it headed?

First it pays to listen and listen with both ears! Listen to your neighbors, friends and family when talking about purchasing their first home, selling their long time home, or their plans to hold off or move forward. Listen to the (more…)

Just Say “Yes”!

When it comes to downsizing and moving, you do not want to attempt this process on your own! Each generation owns their own unique characteristics. “The Greatest Generation”, folks currently in their late 70’s-90 years of age, have been fiercely independent which makes them a group for all of us to emulate. “I’ll do it myself” has been their mantra throughout their lives. I find that this has worked well for them in the past, but when it comes to making a move from a long time home to a senior community, this can make the moving process difficult and sometimes impossible.

“I don’t want to bother my children, they have enough to do”. I’ve heard this so often and know that it is a noble intention on the older adult’s part, but trying to go it alone is a recipe for disaster in many cases. The best results occur when a dialogue is opened from the parent to the child and collaboration occurs from that open conversation. Together, the family can work together and decide what the family can do and what needs to be outsourced.

The good news is that there (more…)