It's Not About the Money, It's About You and Your Dreams!
As you can imagine, I spend a great deal of my working time speaking to people
about their real estate needs. Given the current state of the market, the
conversation is consistently focused on money, and more specifically, on rates,
fees, and dollars. But it is important to step back sometimes, and think about
why someone is contemplating a real estate purchase or sale to begin with. No
one ever says, "I have X dollars to spend, and I have decided to spend them on a
house." No one ever says, "Now that rates are at X, I have decided to purchase
a house." What they say is, "I want to move to a better school district," or,
"I want to move closer to my grandchildren," or, "We have outgrown this house."
It is critically important that you work with an experienced agent, who is able
to help you clarify your goal, keep you focused on it and then achieve
it.
That's why it is never about the money. It is very easy to become
focused on fees, expenses, deadlines, closing costs, inspection repairs, and
thereby lose sight of your goal. All those things are just the means to an end.
It may be a great time to buy if you are a first-time home buyer, because of
the $8,000 tax credit. But it might not be. It might be a great time to
refinance or move up at 4.75%, but it might not be. It's not just about the
money! Please keep that in mind when you think about your next real estate
move. Do you trust your agent enough to share your hopes and dreams, and make
them part of the process?