Importance of Lender Required Repairs

What??

LENDER REQUIRED REPAIRS

These words are NOT what you want to hear when you are buying or selling a home.

So what does this mean you might ask?

Lender required repairs are repairs that must be completed in order for the buyer to get approval for their loan.

It doesn’t matter if the buyer (or seller) care about or want these repairs, they are imposed by the lender.

Common lender required repairs are; peeling paint, broken windows, missing hand rails or anything that falls under health and safety.

As a homeowner what can you do to avoid this situation.

Ask your agent for a do-it-yourself checklist for home inspection preparation. While this is for preparing for a home inspection, it will cover most anything that a lender would be concerned about as well.

Our Emotions

We orbit the gamut of emotions like the earth orbits the sun.

Sometimes we hardly notice our feelings, they are light hearted and fun or run of the mill and mundane.

But sometimes an emotion, like grief or anger, can grip us. And the orbit becomes tighter and faster, like a dying star being drawn to a black hole. Until we reach the event horizon and there’s no turning back.

A black hole is shaped like a funnel in the fabric of space and time. And the dying star gets sucked into the mouth of the funnel never to be seen again.

But scientists are still not sure what’s on the other side of the black hole. What if there’s peace and redemption on the other side? What if there is light and love?

Think of this - even if the caterpillar could comprehend the transition to butterfly, would she even dare to dream that she would go from belly crawler to flying beauty? And as a side note, the caterpillar turns to actual goo during its miraculous transformation.

So if you find yourself in a season of anger or grief that seems never-ending I urge you to remember the mystery and miracle that surrounds transformation. That hearts that are shattered or hardened can beat again with the life blood of rebirth and forgiveness.

Do you believe?

With gratitude.

Magic Number

Hunting for unicorns.

I’m having lots of conversations with both buyers and sellers about pricing these days.

The market is feeling strange right now and I think the level of uncertainty has some of my clients feeling a little off kilter.

But there is no reason for confusion.

Even in a crazy market like this there’s still the “magic number”.

What’s the magic number you might ask? Its the price that yields a number at or above market value in the shortest amount of time.

Sometimes sellers will tell me that they want to price higher because someone out there might “just have to own their home” and will pay over market value.

Buyers will tell me that just maybe there’s a seller out there who would be willing to take a 50% discount off their asking price.

Sounds like hunting for unicorns if you ask me!

Here’s the truth.

The MARKET will determine the value and homes that are priced right will sell very quickly to buyers who are thrilled to be purchasing.

Sounds like a win-win for everyone.

I'm Horrible At Math

I’M HORRIBLE AT MATH, AND OTHER LIES I’VE TOLD MYSELF.

I remember it clearly. Handing my mom my 9th grade report card and telling her, “Mom, I just suck at math. I’ll never be good at it.”

That year, I took Algebra 1 and it was torture! Honestly, I didn't understand anything the teacher was writing on the board. I'm not sure how I even passed that class.

Fast forward to my sophomore year and my first day in geometry.

My teacher was kind and thoughtful and she knew how to teach artists and poets (also known as non-mathers like me). Suddenly math didn’t seem like a foreign language.

For once, I was excited about math and my confidence went through the roof. I finally felt like one of the “smart” kids.

I often think about that statement I made back when I was just 15 years old:

“I'm horrible at math”

And how I truly believed that (and sometimes still do) about myself. It’s made me realize that we can be our worst enemies when it comes to the lies we tell ourselves.

What if I would have said instead; “I'm awesome at math!” I might still have struggled in Algebra 1 but maybe I wouldn't have felt so down on myself.

I’ve learned that sometimes it's worth it to try again. Soooo…. you aren’t good at writing or drawing or public speaking. But what if you allowed yourself to try again

We would never do that to our children. “Oh, you tried that once and you’re just not good at it. Time to give up!” NEVER We would keep encouraging them to try and try again.

So I challenge you to do the same.

What’s something you’ve always told yourself you are “no good at”?

I'm here to cheer you on!

This Is My Calling

This.

This is what keeps me coming back, year after year.

This is what brings me joy.

This is what makes the hard days easier.

This is my calling - making a difference in people’s lives and being a trusted advisor.

I’m forever grateful!

What's Your Dominant Sense?

Our 5 glorious senses.

How rich and vibrant our lives are with the input from our eyes, ears, nose, taste, and touch.

Combine one or more together and you are served up a feast of color, texture, sounds and smells.

When I look at this image I remember the fragrance of the foods, I can taste the olive that just rolled off the platter.

I can remember the sounds of the birds and the wind and I can remember the way the light was shining through the trees.

But what I remember most is the way the tray felt in my hands, it’s texture and weight. I remember my bare feet on the deck and the way the wind would blow against my skin.

Do you have a dominate sense?

The one that cues you in, the one that you rely on in a split second to gather information?

Mine is touch and feeling. I’m super sensitive to my tactile environment.

What about you?

Picking The Right Agent

Last year the founder and leader of Keller Williams Realty, Gary Keller, gave a speech to agents from all over the country.

And he said this profound thing (I’m paraphrasing) - During pandemic and into 2021, we were in a service first, skills second market - a heart up and head down market. Now we are in a skills first, service second market - a head up heart down market.

So what does this mean?

• It means that the skill of your agent is paramount.

• It means their experience is the difference between you selling quickly for top dollar or languishing away on the market with little to no showings or offers.

• It means their marketing tools are helping you stand out in a landscape that is becoming more and more crowded.

• It means their relationship with other agents can make or break a deal.

Lets be honest - in 2021 it didn’t take much skill to help buyers and sellers with their home purchase. Now is a different story and the agent you pick to represent you could make all the difference.

Children Deserve The Very Best

I was going to talk to you about real estate today but honestly I just couldn’t.

My heart is too heavy.

I don’t know the answer. I’ve heard so many suggestions; arm teachers, outlaw guns, metal detectors in schools, address the mental health issues people face today, etc, etc, etc

I don’t know what to do but we have to do something. How can we look our kids in the face and tell them this is remotely acceptable?

They deserve our very best and we can do better. It’s time for real change.

It's Okay Not To Be Okay

Hope & Lamentation

They are the two different sides to the same coin. And they are both a form of prayer.

I’m seeing a lot of HOPE signs cropping up all over the place and I love this message and the sentiment behind it.

However, if today, or yesterday or tomorrow you are feeling a little short on hope don’t beat yourself up over it.

Lamenting is okay too.

It’s an act of mourning, “a passionate expression of grief or sorrow”. And there’s a lot to go around these days.

I’m giving myself space to feel this emotion and “feel the feels” because stuffing our emotions only holds them in longer.

I’m letting go of the guilt for not feeling “ok” all the time.

With gratitude.

Do You Want To Rewind Some Things?

No use crying over spilled milk.

Easier said than done! Right

Since the advent of “rewind” on live TV, sometimes I find my brain is tricked into thinking that all things can be rewound.

A word said in anger - rewind.

A moment of distracted driving - rewind.

A missed opportunity to have a hard or meaningful conversation - rewind.

A fleeting goodbye that was a last - rewind.

The mysteries of life are many. And we all have to live with the decisions we make, the ones that make no difference and the ones that do.

But I do know one thing - that living in the past and lamenting the mistakes we’ve made is no way to live.

At some point you have to choose to forgive. And it might be YOU that needs to forgive YOU.

“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make. The mold of your life is in your hands to break.” J.R.R. Tolkien

With gratitude.

Music Knows Me

Have you ever felt a certain song or musical artist just connected with your soul?

Like the order of the notes was somehow linked to your DNA?

That from the moment you heard it you just knew it was something special.

Maybe even made just for you?

This is how I feel about the band Jamiroquai. From the very first rift in the very first song I knew this would be a band that I would love forever.

It’s like the music KNOWS me.

I know that sounds weird but I cannot describe it any other way.

I would love to hear about the music in your life that makes you feel the same way.

Here’s a hint - if you own a box set (you young ones might not know what I am talking about) then that is probably your answer!

*Side note* I was lucky enough to see them in concert in Denver about 15 years ago. Since then the lead singer has been permanently banned from the US for driving too fast.

Just A Little White Lie

Does the truth matter I still think it does. But society today seems to promote another message.

It’s okay to lie as long as it’s just a little lie.

And we have become so skeptical.

It used to be that photographic evidence was indisputable. Now, I question everything I see. Hmmm, that looks Photoshopped.

Even videos can be altered and we all know “creative editing” can distort and pervert reality.

So what does one do?

Well to start with, I think its okay and important to ask questions. I also use my intuition, “does this feel right?” And lastly its imperative to build relationships and communities founded on trust.

It's okay to demand the truth be told. Its okay to hold yourself and others to honesty

As the great Winston Churchill said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end there it is.”

Yes, there it is. And it matters.

Turn "almost" to "instead"

There is pain and heartbreak in every “almost”. I read this in a book the other day and boy did it make me think.

And so I reflected on the “almosts” in my own life, and truth be told, most of them turned out for the better.

For instance, I almost moved to New Zealand in 2001. If I had, I know for sure I would not be here, writing this message to you today.

Maybe it’s all about perspective. In place of lamenting the “almost” you find the beauty in the path you DID take.

Turn the pain and heartbreak of the “almost” to the joy and beauty of the “instead”.

I would love to hear about some of your “almost” and “instead” moments.

With gratitude.

QUIT SMOKING

The other day I showed a house that was occupied by smokers.

I am not here to harp or preach but I want to share the straight facts with you.

If you choose to smoke that’s on you but please understand that if you decide to smoke IN your home you have probably slashed your home value by upwards of 30%.

Bad odors are one of the biggest turn offs for buyers and one that they CANNOT get past. Do yourself a favor (quit smoking) and smoke outside!

My Job Is To Burn

Do you have a wood stove? We do and we primarily heat our home with it in the winter.

One of my least favorite things about the wood stove is when it’s almost out and I have to coax it back to life or even clean it and start a new fire.

However, I have learned a little trick. When the fire is nearly out I can get it going again with some new logs and just a little paper.

With one balled up piece of newspaper, something to catch the flame I am able to remind the fire who she is.

It doesn’t take much, just one little spark of fire to get it going again.

That one piece of paper is immediately consumed and the fire remembers - my job is to burn. Lately I have found there are certain activities I can do too that remind me who I am.

Whether it be exercise, meditation, reading or connecting with a loved one, I can trigger a part of my brain that gets me back into gear.

How about you? I would love to hear what gets your fire going again.

With gratitude.

What's For Dinner?

You know the major adulting conundrum we all have? You know the one? Come on, the one that plagues you everyday (unless you are one of those super organized types)!

Yep, you got it - WHAT TO MAKE FOR DINNER!

Well, we got this little gal a kids cookbook for Christmas and now she WANTS to make dinner. This is one of her new specialties, taco cups

I don’t know how long this is going to last so I am going to enjoy it as long as she does.

***Side note: You know when you are growing up and you get all kinds of advice from adults- make sure to travel, get good grades, marry your best friend, kids will change your life, you get the picture….

How come NO ONE ever told me that finding something to cook for dinner every night was going to be so hard?

In Pricing Your Home

But Zillow says my house is worth a gazillion dollars!

Okay, I’m exaggerating, kind of.

Zillow uses sales data to come up with your “Zestimate” but what they can’t factor in are things like the view, traffic noise, intimate community knowledge, changes in the local work force like a company leaving town or coming to town.

In other words the “Zestimate” is a 50,000 foot view of your homes value.

Having your local agent help you price your home is like looking under a microscope at the value of your home.

Don’t leave these things to chance. Now is not the time to be inaccurate about pricing. Correct pricing is going to dictate whether your home sits on the market or gets multiple-over asking offers.

Do Not Make This Mistake As Well

You know how you can sometimes learn from someone else’s mistake

Well here’s an opportunity for you.

I recently heard about a home that sold “off market”. This is a home that is sold privately, no Realtors involved.

Apparently the seller (lets just call her Jane) did not want to pay real estate commissions so she sold it herself.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this, however, while Jane saved herself the commissions she cost herself over $200,000 in the purchase price.

Had she called a local Realtor they would have helped her price her home accordingly, in line with fair market value. Jane ended up selling her home for WAY under market value.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset. Don’t leave it to chance, fate or your best guess. Get some expert and professional advice so you don’t end up like Jane.

A Note At The Airport

My daughter found this note in the airport.

It was just an unassuming little wad of paper, but being 12 and curious, she decided to pick it up.

And inside someone, I don’t know who, poured out a little of their heart.

Who is this person, the recipient?

Who is the other person, the author?

We won’t ever know.

But judging by the amount of times it seems to have been folded and unfolded, I do think the recipient is probably sad to have lost it.

Or maybe not, maybe this note had been carried around for months in a pocket or wallet and was purposely tossed out as a result of a shattered heart. Tears shed while waiting for a plane

I love the possibilities of this note. The stories it weaves. The heart that beat a little faster when these 30 words were read, over and over again. Memorized and inscribed.

And the part I love most is that someone, because of another, felt hope again. I pray that you have someone in your life that brings you hope too.

With gratitude.

The Bright Side

Looking on the bright side.

Here’s what I do when I am having a total crap day.

Pull up those cool videos that do the zoom out of the universe. You know the ones, it starts on your street and progresses to the next solar system in the Milky Way, or something like that!

When I feel like my problems are insurmountable, I like to remind myself that I am just a speck in the universe and whatever I am going through is likely transitory.