Doom and gloom. Negativity. Bad news. Pity parties. Who needs them? What benefit is it to anyone to wallow in despair? There is no benefit, and yet it seems so many people gravitate toward these emotions and mind-sets. Everywhere we turn - TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, the Internet - we are inundated with “news” of economic woes, housing troubles, business failure, political shenanigans, etc. Is this reality? Yes, it is part of reality. It doesn’t have to be your only reality.
During the dark days of the 20th century’s Great Depression, our country rallied around motion pictures. Movie theaters were a place to escape the daily reminders of the economic instability. Movies offered music, happy endings and stars like Shirley Temple - Shirley Temple singing “Be Optimistic” and encouraging people to “smile and be happy.” For 90 minutes a person could hitch themselves to the wagon of hope and be reminded that nothing lasts forever, not even bad times.
Prospective home buyers and sellers, where is your hope today? Shirley is past 80 years of age, so her smile with its adorable dimples isn’t going to cut it anymore. But really, isn’t your hope in the same place it’s always been: in your attitude? It’s really the only thing you can control.
No one’s going to have a positive, confident attitude for you. You alone are responsible for being motivated and proactive. Having a positive attitude is going to ease some of the stresses that come along with buying or selling a home.
Positive realities for a buyer:
- Inventory is high
- Qualified buyers can get affordable financing
- First-time buyers can reap government perks
- All real estate is local!
Positive realities for a seller:
- Staging your home makes a great first impression
- Every walk-through is a potential buyer
- Realistic pricing can sell your home
- All real estate is local!
Whether buying or selling, working with a licensed real estate agent is highly recommended. Most agents love what they do. They have a passion for guiding and assisting buyers and sellers in making one of the largest financial commitments of their lives. You and your agent know you can’t control forces outside of yourselves, but you can control how you respond to them. Being positive is going to help both of you to be open-minded, creative and resourceful in reaching a successful real estate transaction.
Don’t let the seeds of negativity sprout in your mind! Remain focused on thinking and acting in a positive manner.
Posted by Sharon Walker
