Mary Storer-Sanborn

Clearing out the garden tonight I noticed the sun had shifted a little lower and a whole lot faster than a mere month ago. New Hampshire growing season is slowing up a step, like my little dog, Emily. She was fascinated with things I could never see or smell, while I scrounged for the last of the Roma tomatoes, some squash and a few cucumbers. I think the entire cost of planting this past spring cost me a lot more than if I just bought them locally somewhere, but then the aroma of the plants and ground and veggies would not have clung to my sweater as I put my treasures of the kitchen counter.

Emily was hesitant to come in on my heels as she usually does, having locked eyes onto a greedy squirrel who had no fear of our presence. We had much earlier in the season learned to share our produce with the locals-deer, birds and a very chunky-looking pair of chipmunks. Emmie would have nothing of the squirrel's unwelcome visit disturbing her sniffing reverie.

Tonight the temperature will dip below freezing, testing to how welcome this kind of weather will be received.

There are many people with the an economic chill upon them, I shiver to think of my friends and neighbors being thrown into a winter of foreclosure, job insecurity, things that keep you awake at night wondering just how to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.

If it is any consolation, please be kind to yourself, take what you can out of your garden, and know, that for today, you did all you could. Take time with your loved ones, gather them like treasures, let their love cling to you. Tomorrow is another day.

Although not a big Kenny Rogers fan, I keep having his song, "The Gambler" rolling through my head.

"You gotta know when to walk away, and when to run."

Professionals: It is in serving your clients' true best interest, that sometimes, you have to be willing to walk away. Based upon my experience, clients-or potential clients, are seeking a professional's honest opinion...not how much money if sell this puppy, not, I'll get them to sign and then we'll start lowering the price.

As the market has gotten tighter, oh, akin to a scene from the National Geographic when the watering hole is drying up, it is integrity of what you can truly do to help your customer that should remain in the forefront of your mind.

Sellers: You should expect nothing less than honesty and integrity. If, after an agent has discussed your situation with you, you may decide for whatever reason selling or other options like renting right now may not be right for you.. In this market, it has to make sense.

My hope is that if you, as a consumer, begin to ask agents if they would be willing to walk away from "your deal" if they could not truly be of help, how many would know "When to walk away."

Those are the agents, who, despite the challenges of earning a living in this market, will do their utmost to get the job done for you-when you are ready.

Every day there seems to be more gloom and doom in the news. The sky is falling! The market will never recover! Wall Street investors are losing their shirts (as is your 401K)! Layoffs of your neighbor down the street. It's enough to make you hide under the covers until 2009! Enough already.

There are pockets of good cheer! Our grandparents went through the Great Depression-they hung tough and made it through with gratefulness. We sat in gas lines on even and odd numbered days in the 70's hoping the engine will keep running until we could get to the pumps for a little more. In the late 80's and early 90's houses here in NH had the bottom fall out-leaving some of us bankrupted, We perservered! We are of hardy northern stock, after all.

Today houses, although much slower to happen, are still selling. Lending institutions have gotten a well-deserved slap for what they have lured many unsuspecting consumers toward. In time to come, this will filter out.

And folks? Here is a little secret...They are not making any more land! (OK unless you want to wait a while in Hawaii) But still, houses and land are a limited commodity. And who among us would trade those days of hiking up 5 floors just to get to our apartments? Many of the wealthiest people in the world understand the concept of real estate. They have taken chances on it and made their fortunes by it.

It is scary to see your home value go down, get concerned about your jobs, not to mention the kids' education. But this too shall pass.

Amherst, NH has been lucky to have escaped what many people in other parts of the country are going through. But even here, it gets scary. But scared is OK if it causes you to take action to help secure your future. Whether you hang tight to your home and ride out what is happening in the next few months, or you find you have to sell, or consider the time to buy while the rates are low and FHA has some delicious Buyer programs, the American Dream of owing your own home is still worth it.

I invite you to visit me at www.nhHomeStaging.com

All the Best!

Mary