Some time ago, I participated in a three day seminar called the Landmark Forum and found it to be very valuable in my interactions and relationships with others. They were definitely three days well spent and I am utilizing the education in my profession-particularly with all the different phases and emotions buyers, sellers and myself go through on the way to closing a real estate transaction. We call ourselves human beings but, in reality, we are mostly human doings. As a Realtor, I have all the check lists, the websites, my outlook contacts, e-mail, closing documents, negotiations, purchase agreements, blogs and the list goes on. It is easy to get caught up when making a deal happen with juggling all the different tasks ("doings") and lose site of who I am being and trusting that things work out and that stress and worry do not make it go any better. Here is an example of what I mean.
About a week ago, I closed my ninth transaction since May 30 and all my closings have gone fairly smooth until July 5th when I got a call from my very upset buyer who has just been told by her lender that the condo she is buying has appraised for $23,000 less than the purchase price. This is five weeks after it went pending and two weeks before closing. One of the things I learned in the Landmark Forum is that people usually look at what's wrong-we rarely live EACH day as "anything is possible". For example-it's really possible that when I go outside my home, an alien ship has landed in the yard. It is unlikely but entirely possible-it could happen. However, the past has told me that it won't happen because it has never happened before and no alien ship was there when I came into the house. In other words, it is completely possible that a new appraisal can be done and it will appraise closer to purchase price and everything will work out. However, the market we are in, especially in Southeastern Michigan, makes that hard to believe-especially when the appraisal is so far off. At that precise moment, I was in the "anything is possible" way of being and I calmed my client down and created in her the attitude that it really can work out.
Come to find out, the condo was compared to two foreclosures since there were no other sales in that complex. The listing agent was really surprised because the appraiser never contacted her to inquire about her comps. The bank wasn't budging and insisted on comparing to only that complex when there were appropriate comparables across the street. After about a week and endless conversations with the listing agent, the lender and a lot of finger pointing-including kicking myself that it came to this, I was beginning to think it was hopeless. My client was closing on her home the day before, all her belongings were being stored in a moving truck over night and she had no where to go. I started previewing similar condos just to have an alternative. At this point, my client reminded me (when I needed it the most) that "anything is possible and she is sure it will work out"-thank goodness that we can impress some of our best thoughts on others. Finally, I went to another lender and he said it would definitely appraise for $13,000 higher (only $10,000 less that our current PA) and, just as we were about to turn everything over to him, the other lender finally appraised it for the same amount. My client got to keep her rate of 6.15%, lower mortgage costs and purchased her condo for $10,000 less than originally negotiated.
The morale to my story: The tools I have for "being" can only work if they are practiced in the moment of what life throws at us. In the Landmark Forum, they have a practice to achieve being peaceful--it is to "give up our interpretation that there is anything wrong here". Life is what it is and we can struggle against it or relax and just do our best. So now, I can relax in my garden-it's easy to "be" peaceful there; however. . . after a while I get bored and want something to "do".
Royal Oak Realtor selling Real Estate in Southeastern Michigan. TishHouse sells Houses - selling Oakland County Real Estate with RE/MAX Showcase Homes in Birmingham, Michigan. Helping People in a challenging market by specializing in Short Sales. See what my clients have to say about my extraordinary customer service.
