Deborah (Debi) Purcell

I get asked all of the time "How's real estate going for you?" How do I answer that? I've been licensed for precisely one year now and have yet to have a transaction get to closing. Oh, I have buyers that I'm working with, but they're going FHA and, well, that's a whole other bag of worms.

I simply smile, and remain thankful that I actually pull a small paycheck as the office manager. I am also sure to thank the person who inquired about my business since they may become a client in the future.
I consider most of my contacts to be referral generators for me. Not that I would love for them to be clients, they are simply in the same boat as me and my husband. We LOVE where we live, and have no plans on moving any time soon.

I am thankful that my colleague had the foresight to get us both registered for certification as Real Estate Collaborative Specialists - Divorce. We are well on our way to making wonderful business associations, and we are looking forward to helping couples with what is in most cases the largest asset in a divorce.

I am also thankful that my colleague, the owner of our company is so generous with her support. I am thankful that I don't have to deal with some of the issues a large brokerage comes with.

What else can I be thankful for? I am thankful for everyone here on ActiveRain! You are a great source of education, insight, and most of all MOTIVATION to keep at it. I know the tide will turn, and I will be thankful that I continued on this road to a great career.

I am thankful that my husband has a good career. I am thankful that my son is healthy and although he is only 6, he is growing into a nice young man. I am thankful for my mother who moved to Ramona to be closer to me - even if it's really to be closer to her grandson. ;)

I am thankful for my wonderful community of Ramona. I have so many wonderful friends and neighbors that I can count on in a moment's notice. I am thankful that I am able to juggle my calendar to enable myself to give back.

I could go on and on, but I wanted to leave this thought that is especially appropriate this time of year:

No matter your income, position, education, or lifestyle; THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WHO HAS LESS, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS MORE THAN YOU. Be thankful for your life. Be thankful for what you have. Strive to be your personal best, but do not envy others. Remember those who have less than you, and give selflessly with no expectation of a reward.

A wish for a HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all!

As my life continues to progress, I find myself adding more and more commitments of my time, talent, and treasure. Well, one of the three at least. Am I spreading myself too thin?

Last night was my son's pack meeting for Cub Scouts. He's just starting out as a Tiger Cub, and the parents acting as their Akelas, or adult guides, run the den as a group. We're all learning as we go, and we are working on sharing the responsibility evenly between families.

However, and this is where I begin my dilemma, the den does need to have a Tiger Cub Den Leader. Since the parent who we were encouraging to step up as Den Leader was absent from the pack meeting due to illness, I was conned convinced into taking the wheel. I don't mind really, I just want to make sure I don't short-change the little guys.

I will have 6, possibly 8, first-graders looking to me to engage them every 2 weeks with discussions about what it means to be a Scout, organize an activity, and arrange for fun outings to earn merit patches. We will continue to rotate the den meeting duties between families, but I know they will be looking to me for ideas.

So... This is a time commitment from me for at least 5 to 6 hours of meetings per month, not including planning, organizing, and special outings.

That time commitment is on top of my participation in our local Kiwanis Club (I'm co-chair of our largest fundraiser of the year - the Bow Wow Pow Wow), Family Faith Formation through our church, Lector for mass at least once or twice a month, and PTA involvement. Somewhere in there my husband would like for me to join him for some golf at least twice a month. Thank God soccer is finished for the season.

Oh, and did I mention that I'm a working mom? On top of my family commitments, I have been working diligently to get my business as a REALTOR going. That means several meetings a month, showing properties to buyers, and now participating in Divorce Planning Seminars.

Do I sound like I'm whining? I don't mean to. I love what I do, and I know I'm making a difference in my own small way. I simply need to add the word "No" into my vocabulary. So please don't ask me to volunteer for anything. My calendar is full, and if I get spread any thinner, I'm afraid I'll disappear.

The family home is usually the most valuable asset in a divorce. However, when dividing marital property, simply obtaining a home appraisal does NOT reveal the true value of the house.

A team of real estate industry professionals can assist with the true valuation of the property. These teams work collaboratively to help families get the information they need much earlier in the divorce process, thus avoiding costly property settlement mistakes that are preventable during divorce, but not after.

As a RCS-D^TM REALTORS®, my colleague and I are specially trained to facilitate cooperation between divorcing couples and their legal representatives.

Call our team today to find out more on how to protect your post divorce credit score and your family's financial future.