Fear is caused by either the threat of immediate physical danger or it's the absence of facts, so we fill in the narrative with worst case scenarios. Fear is also caused by the absence of GRATITUDE in your life.
People say this market is challenging. May I remind you that they were saying that about the Q2-2020-Q1-2022 markets too?! And by the way, "they" always say that, no matter the market, so enough of that painfully tired and droll narrative.
What I'm most grateful for is my perspective I honed from my experience. My ability to appreciate what I do have in spite of what the market is doing beyond my control. I'm grateful I was challenged by my own 2003 relocation and starting my business over, that I conquered The Great Recession by re-training and changing my business model, pushing through past election chaos, thriving in the a deadly world changing Pandemic and now by navigating this current recession. I have the ability to put panic on pause for myself and therefore my clients.
Why would I be grateful? Because it will always be something because the pendulum must swing both ways; so being prepared for it not crippled by it is what I'm grateful for. These adversities have shown me what I'm made of and caused me to get better. They give me perspective to lean on: "I've been through worse." and "I did it before so I can certainly do it again." I have the ability to put panic on pause for myself and therefore my clients.
Mental fear is the absence of good information, communication and leadership.
I like to remind my clients and the nay-sayers: Houses were bought and sold each year of my career. So whether it's Zillow's Market Share, iBuyers (which are failing often in this market), Recessions, Inflation, Pandemics, Tech Crashes, Interest Rates, Stock Market Chaos, or Market Booms; houses were bought and sold each of those years and events. If I (we) did it before I (we) can do it again, I (we) have the ability to put panic on pause for myself (ourselves) and therefore my (our) clients.
Fear swells in the minds of the unprepared, that moment they realize, I should have been better prepared, saved more, spent less, ate better, exercised more, studied more, etc. Adversity doesn't develop your character, it reveals it.
Any of us that have had careers longer than 15 years have seen some significant and unprecedented markets in our industry. From initial market boom of 1998-2006, to The Great Recession and on through The Pandemic, and we're still here in spite of them. We've been through some of the worst markets in history and some of the most robust markets in the last 25 years. So we have the ability to put panic on pause for ourselves and our clients, because we did it before and we can do it again. Houses were bought and sold each year.
The last three years have been the most robust three years since the 1998-2006 era for me and many of my associates in real estate. But when my 2020 buyers were complaining about low inventory and high competition, I was bringing them perspective and confidence in my ability to help them; reminding them of the same scenario in 1998 and that by 2000 the market was exploding (at least in The Bay Area). The interest rates were not 3% however, they were 7%-8% range (just like they are in Q4 2022 and when I bought my first house in 1989, the 10%-12% range was what was available to me. Houses were bought and sold each year in all rates, levels of competition and inventory fluctuation. We have the ability to put panic on pause for ourselves and our clients with perspective.
"We got this!"
I'm putting panic on pause for them in 2022's changing market, because after all, we've been here before. My actions and my interactions with my clients offer an experienced perspective and hope that cuts through the social media and click bait crap that attacks their spirit daily. I'm grateful for the experience that allows me to remain calm and know we have the ability to put panic on pause for ourselves and therefore our clients...yes you do!
Photo Cover by Johannes Plenio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-photography-of-boat-on-water-during-sunset-1118874/
Photo 1 by Ian Turnell: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-fruits-stall-709567/
Photo 2 by Ella Olsson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flatlay-photography-of-fruits-1334131/
Comments (21)Subscribe to CommentsComment