Tag: clients

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Home is where we heal

Everyone is dealing with problems that they don’t readily show to the world. I have lived the last two decades as the sibling of someone struggling with addiction and it has shaped me in so many ways. It has also shaped how I see “home” and how I feel comfortable and relaxed.

If your home has always been your haven, then I must say that I envy you. Growing up alongside addiction has (at times) stolen away the space that one is supposed to feel their most relaxed. In my life, evenings at home could be peaceful or volatile and it was anyone’s guess which would unfold. That is the nature of the struggle of living amongst addiction. No say, no control, just your reactions and your reactions to other peoples’ reactions.

I didn’t understand what home was supposed to be until I purchased my own. There are so many people that I’ve seen take that same deep breath when they walk into their new home as their own space where they can heal from all of the things that have hurt them. Some clients are upfront about what may be going on, and some are not, but the sigh of relief after closing is unmistakable. The walk through the door signifies a weight being lifted, stress being released and the deep understanding that someone is safe in their new home.

Having a place to heal, to grow, to experiment and to express your creativity is more than just comforting, it should be a basic human right. Creating your own safe space is empowering and deeply transformative. It allowed me to learn the importance of emotional and spatial boundaries, and how to build and maintain them with those around me. Once you learn to create your own home, you will fight anyone and anything that tries to destroy it. Home becomes a place of strength, of healing, and a place to build hope.

Real estate is more than walls and windows, it’s helping clients to create their own safe space. I can say from very personal experience that our home is where we heal and I’m so thrilled to spend my days helping those around me to find their space.

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Is now the time to… downsize?

As children grow up and move away their parents are hesitant to sell the house that their family has grown up in. The memories are hard to part with, but the house simply isn’t working for them anymore. Add that with the fact that this market has scared the heck out of everyone and there are some empty-nesters that are potentially missing out on an amazing opportunity to grow their wealth, upgrade their living space and live authentically to their current stage of life.

This market shouldn’t scare you, it should invigorate you.

The opportunities that you have are abundant. Receiving more for your home than you ever thought possible opens many doors of possibility to you. What could you do with an extra $40,000 that you weren’t expecting from the sale of your home and not having to make any costly repairs to get your home sold?

Pay off debt? Plunk more money into your retirement savings? Retire now instead of a year from now? Travel the US in an RV? Move to Costa Rica? Backpack Europe while staying only in luxury hotels because you’ve earned it after decades of corporate work? Whatever it is, you do you. Dream your biggest dream and watch the sale of your home carve out the first steps on your next great adventure.

Deciding to sell your home is a big decision, and it could be the start to an even bigger new chapter in your life. Need some additional information on the process or what you could net from the sale before you decide to move forward? I’m happy to help you however I can. A valuation of your home for today’s NC/SC market is always free, and I’m always happy to answer questions over a cup of coffee either in-person or virtually. So call me to get the information that you need to make the best decision for yourself.

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Housing Supply, Housing Demand and “The Corona”

The biggest unknown in any economic model is how we the consumers will act, and this rings true for Charlotte real estate as well. I had someone tell me that the “bottom fell out” of our real estate market and I had to take a step back to regroup before responding.

What market indicators were they looking at? Well, it turns out that they were looking at the economic indicator that reigns supreme above all others… their own gut feeling. No one feels comfy making large decisions in the midst of a global pandemic and yes, based on the Charlotte Region Weekly Market Activity Report from our local Realtor® association there have been some slowdowns. However, these slowdowns aren’t necessarily what you might think.

Pre-Corona Armageddon 2020 there was no disputing that the Charlotte real estate market is highly sought-after. There are tons of people moving here for all different reasons each and every day, and we have a booming economy and our job market is top-notch for people in professional industries. There’s so much opportunity here that we have to bring in job applicants from other cities and states because prior to the pandemic we had extremely low unemployment numbers for those working in traditional desk jobs. (No, the same cannot be said for those working in trades, customer service and labor positions, but the affordable housing crisis is a blog post for another day.)

Our biggest issue within Charlotte’s real estate market is and has been a supply problem. We have tons of qualified people and not enough housing to ensure that even the majority of buyers can find a suitable home. This in-turn drives up the prices for the homes that are available and creates the chaos and bidding wars we’ve seen for the last few years.

The changes that have been felt in our market are honestly, more of the same old story: too many buyers and not enough houses. Based on the Weekly Market Activity data the market is slowing down from the perspective of less homes are being listed for sale. So, in an already jammed up market people who would sell are afraid to sell. However, those that do venture into listing are being rewarded by receiving a higher percentage of their listing price at closing and their home being on the market an average of 38 days, that’s 19.1% LESS time than last year when the average days on market was 47 days.

If you’re looking to sell just remember: To the victor goes the spoils.  Get out there and get listed. If you’re a buyer waiting for the true “bottom” to fall out, it appears that you’ll be waiting a little longer than what a globally-debilitating economic crisis can offer up to impact our Charlotte slice of heaven.

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Thank U. Next.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the last few years, it’s that everyone has their own opinion of what’s “best” for you. This has become glaringly apparent in both my personal life and my professional life as I left a marriage I was alone in, I moved to a city that wasn’t “home” and I left a steady career I was miserable in to follow my passion for entrepreneurship and real estate.

I thank God every day for the second chances I’ve been given and the strength he’s given me to trust in him and myself.

Most-recently I’ve hit a stumbling block in my business: people who’ve known me think that this career isn’t living up to my potential. It’s a hard pill to swallow when you learn that someone you’ve cared deeply about feels this way and that they won’t be supporting you in your career, after all, it must just be a faze anyway, right?

Actually, no. And I’m sorry that your definition of success is so narrow.

I became a Realtor to utilize my strengths in understanding law, finance and economics to be of service to those around me. I support my clients through difficult personal transformations and represent their interests in a logical, compelling and legal way to get them their best possible outcome. I use my strengths in negotiating and understanding of legal and ethical pitfalls of this industry to navigate families through the homeownership process all while caring for my clients’ interests as I would my own family’s.

Many of the people who started out as my clients have become what I consider to be my “Charlotte tribe” and “Charlotte family.” My clients have returned my care, loyalty and support to me in ways that I simply can’t explain in writing. They are the people who get to experience me in my every day life (the good, the bad, the ugly and the unexplainably hilarious).

I love meeting new people and allowing them the space to be themselves. I love getting to know these new people and new families, and I love letting them get to know me. The REAL me. The audacious, quick-witted, take-no-crap from anyone, nerd, that loves a good dog meme, non-political and intelligently lead debate, glass of bourbon and explosive laughter.

It saddens me that there are family and friends that don’t want me to be successful because they believe that my life is “beneath” what it should be. Because happiness and helping others while enjoying my co-workers, friends and everyday life without a six-figure salaried 9-to-5 job is somehow failing. Thank you for your concern and please know that your opinion has been heard. I just don’t care what you think my life “should” be.

I work hard and I’m surrounded by amazing people. I’ve lived through some craziness and I’m better because of it. I’m happier, healthier and more confident in myself than I’ve ever been. I’m sorry you’ve chosen not to support me, but I’m not sorry that I’m still standing and living in my own authenticity.

 

 

 

 

 

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the “sweet” life

I am so incredibly blessed to walk this journey in real estate, and through it I have met some of the most amazing people in my life. People from all different backgrounds and walks of life, and there are a cherished few that I can pick up the phone and laugh with.

Sometimes all you need on a stressful morning is a “Good morning Sunshine!” and one of my clients continues to teach me that, and lift up any kind of a day I’m having. Real estate is more than a transaction, it is a connection of people working together no-matter their side, their background or anything else that may differentiate us. We all need a safe space, whether that be a physical place to call home or a conversation with someone you can’t stop laughing with. I love the clients that I laugh out loud with and make my coworkers wonder what shenanigans we’re discussing at 10am on a Wednesday morning. These connections are worth more than any listing, any sale, any commission check.

I thank this business for giving me the people I’m surrounded by and for allowing me to use my love of real estate, accounting, and understanding law to help others. When it earns me a paycheck too, then it’s just that much sweeter.