Ever since I've been kicking back more, it seems I've been getting more done. Odd as that may seem. Work less to work smart. Or maybe it's because I'm learning to not give a crap about stuff I can't change. I want so desperately for all of my clients to be happy, that when one of them is unhappy, I start to take it personally. But then I stop. The thing is if a person is unhappy, it's really of their own choosing. Because every single person on the face of this earth has a choice of how they react to any given circumstances.
People can be so quick to point fingers of blame. If only this guy had done this or if only this other person hadn't done whatever. You can't control forces outside of yourself. You can control only how you react. The world is not a stage with you as puppet master. People think: if only the bank had given me a loan modification, I wouldn't be in this pickle. Yes, you would. When you own an underwater home, even with a loan mod, you'd still be stuck in a house that is worth 50% less or so than when you bought it. That doesn't change.
Not all of my clients are underwater, though. I know there are times that it feels like they are. Especially these days, due to market conditions, I have been a very busy Sacramento short sale agent. But before short sales were ubiquitous, I sold regular real estate just like every other Tom, Dick and Harry out there. And I still do.
Went to 2 closings yesterday. Both traditional sales. A home in Carmichael in a gated community, and a home in Natomas. My Carmichael sellers went on the market April 29th and by May 1 they were under contract. We're closing next week. They were astonished and asked me if all of my listings sell and close this quickly. I think they forgot that we've been working on this since January. We spent 3 months home staging, cleaning, producing videos and four-color glossy flyers, studying market competition and movement, to come on the market with a bang at exactly the right price. It worked.
Also, received another HAFA short sale approval on a property in the Pocket. You'll hear agents say that HAFA short sales aren't happening, but that's not true. Ya just gotta know how to work 'em. I'm particularly jazzed about this HAFA approval because my sellers are over the age of 80, not in the best of health, and I was able to provide a service they probably could not have received elsewhere. Those HAFA short sales are an art.
Plus, I put two more Sacramento short sales into escrow yesterday and set up a third to go today. Stopped by to visit a client who just returned from Costa Rica. He was the guy I thought I might find motionless inside his house and alone, but thank goodness he was just on vacation. That was a relief. I'm thinking about taking an overnight vacation with my husband. Not as far as Costa Rica, but maybe to Portland to see The Twilight Singers and Greg Dulli. Work less. Play. Work smart.
Photo: Elizabeth Weintraub, Lounge on 20, Midtown Sacramento (perfect for an outdoor Friday night dinner)
---
Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.
The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Elizabeth - Finger pointing always seems to fix the problem (sarcasm). I rather put energy towards a solution than dwelling on should of could of would of. There is only so much we can control and if I make a mistake then I might lose sleep, but other than that I don't take things personally.
I couldn't agree more Elizabeth. Too many things beyond our control. When things go wrong for me I think, "where will I go next." I love to travel and it clears my head. Everyone has something....for me it is volunteering with an animal rescue group, and travel. Great post.
We cannot control what has not been given to us and even then it takes too much energy to try. Congratulations on your 2 traditional sales Elizabeth! Better than saying 'regular' sales as I've heard them described lately.
I've been kicking back a bit more these days too. Not traveling so much as not working as much. And I'm seeing the same thing. More business. I think you and I are a lot alike. I realized that I can't take these deals personally. Congrats on the two regular sale closings. I've got a regular sale closing coming up next month.
"maybe it's because I'm learning to not give a crap about stuff I can't change."
Oddly enough, that philosophy seems to work for me too whenever I apply it to some scenario or issue I'm having. I really need to remember to do that a more often. Too many times, I allow others to dump their stress and issues on me. Shame on me! I find the older I get, the more I learn to nip that crap right in the bud and put that crap right back where it belongs. As fate would have it, the more I do that, the less likely those people are to do it again, at least to me.
Elizabeth, I just read another post about how business seems to increase when we go on vacation. I’ve noticed after my move to a new office … I am working less hours and feeling a sense of inner peace and calm. Learning to let go of what we cannot control is a key to happiness. If others choose to be unhappy … it is their choice. Take your overnight to Portland with you hubby! Enjoy life … you deserve it.
Hi Michelle: Yes, it's the coulda -- woulda -- shoulda -- syndrome, and it can drive you insane because it is pointless.
Hi Sheila: I used to work with an animal rescue group, too, but I'm such a wimp. I want to take home every little critter and it pains me to see other animals homeless, so now I just give money instead.
Hi Wanda: What do you call a regular sale if not a traditional? I guess you could say real sellers, but that's not necessarily true because short sale sellers are real, too.
Hi Chris Ann: Whatever happens in California vibrates you guys in Virginia, or maybe it's the other way around. We do experience very similar things. It's kinda eerie.
Hi Donne: I suspect when we get older we just get crankier and realize our days, being numbered, are no longer available to invade if they're just gonna trampled upon. Life is too precious.
Hi Kathleen: Well, I did it. I booked the trip. I also changed my husband's hotel reservation to the penthouse. Because we are worth it.