I don’t really have any.
Oh, I know that the media has painted my future with a broad brush of gloom and doom. It would only seem reasonable to think that my ability to earn a living or continue living in a style that I have grown accustomed to in recent years may not be in the cards for the foreseeable future.
The frequency of deals has diminished over the last eighteen months. Things have changed in the market. There are fewer buyers available. In this area, it seems that at least half the homes for sale are not really for sale. Referrals from outside sources have become a trickle. The real estate atmosphere has taken on a pale that is far from conducive to supporting optimism.
So, why should I or any other Realtor keep plugging along?
It is who I am ! ! !
I have not been a Realtor forever. I imagine my tenure is minute compared to many that are still efforting in this arena. I have been a pump jockey, mechanic, deliveryman, retail manager, roofer, builder, preacher, bill collector, wholesaler, banker, printer and artist/poet. Trust me…the artist focus created all the ancillary jobs to support my art. I am a grandson, son, brother, father, husband and friend.
I was never seeking to have my art grace the walls of the MOMA or have my prose included in textbooks. I was merely moving through life trying to share my visions of the world around me in visual and written media. I was serving that little ego voice that tells us all that we are making an impact on the world.
Then …………………………
….someone blew up my world and yours. The world that existed before 9/11/2001 was forever changed. The boogey man that hid under our bed, the monster that hid in our closet, the self doubts that churned in our mind all combined to slam into the World Trade Center. Every day since then, that dramatic reality has been part of our existence.
Some bought duct tape, some joined a church, some joined the military… as for me, I became a real estate agent. I can look back and see all the pieces that fell into place that led to my entering this profession. I can see that all the different jobs and homes in my past led to the natural immersion into this profession.
I have been told that I got in when the getting in was good. The market was hot, prices were going up and interest rates were falling. To be honest, I was too dumb at the time to understand. I was not part of the real estate history. I was not cognizant of the past or what was occurring. I was too busy trying to establish a career to notice.
I quickly discovered that I truly could make a difference in the world, one family at a time. I did not know that anyone was ranking agents. I did not understand production levels and splits and any of the trappings surrounding the profession.
I had but two major focuses in the beginning……….
The Law The American Dream
I learned real estate law. I saw the simplicity of the process if you just used the law as a basis for every action. It was very simple. It was black and white. It was comforting. I listened to my clients and learned that owning a home remains a major piece of the American Dream. I learned that if I listened to their needs and used my new skills to accommodate their needs, I was making a difference in the world. I had a purpose beyond ego gratification.
I soon saw the freight train of financial market disruption coming down the tracks. I noticed that the number of agents in my office was decreasing. I felt the impact of a changing market.
I did not lose my desire to make a difference.
Next week, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. I still remember Thanksgiving in 2001. I was thankful that my niece working in the World Trade Center area was safe. I was thankful that the attack, as horrific as it was, opened all of our hearts to a rededication of purpose in many facets of our life. I had many jewels in my thankful crown that day. I worked serving the homeless in Washington DC. I made a personal decision that I would find a way to give back to a society that had given me so many opportunities. I would find a way to repay all the strangers that stopped and admired a painting in progress or dropped a dollar in my guitar case as I sang on a street corner.
This market may be tough. It is no different than any other market. People still dream. People still need to change housing. People still need advice and guidance.
The people that have crossed this six plus decade path have never given up on me. I will not give up on them. I will sit down to a fine turkey dinner this year and I will recommit myself to working harder to become available to those that need my services. I will work harder to become an even better listener. I will work harder to understand the constant flux of my market.
I will not quit. I will become better. After six years, it is who I am.
If you would like to chat about the DC market, if you would like to know how your tiny piece fits in the overall puzzle, if you would like to sit down and talk with someone that will actually listen to your dreams and focus on your desires in real estate, call me. I can be reached at 301-509-5111. If you would prefer, you can drop me a note at macarthurgroup@gmail.com It is my privilege to continue offering my service to you.
