Everybody over three feet tall knows this is a wild real estate market. Unlike anything most of us have ever seen. And because it’s so slanted in favor of sellers, it’s hard on buyers. And their realtors.
There are all sorts of strategies for getting an offer accepted. I’ve talked about a few in previous months. And that’s good, but it still may take months and a whole lot of offers to land a deal on the house you want.
So, how do we handle the process? That has a lot to do with attitude.
Over years of working to bring more clarity and happiness to my life, I’ve read a lot of guru writers – you know, the folks who love to tell us how to think and live. Some of this stuff is nonsense of course, but some of it … well, skeptic that I am, I’ve discovered that some of it is very, very good.
Two who have had a big impact are Byron Katie and Eckart Tolle – respectively, the authors of Loving What Is and The Power of Now. They both advance the idea that life itself is not driving us crazy. The problem lies in our reactions to life. Simply put, they advise total acceptance of reality just as it is, and then working on our responses.
Denying or resisting reality only makes us less happy, and it can block efforts to improve the situation. Acceptance does not imply acquiescence. It simply means seeing things clearly so you can take appropriate action.
So, does this apply to real estate? Of courses it does! Doesn’t everything?
As we – buyers and realtors – work this crazy market, acceptance of what is makes life less stressful in the moment, and makes progress more likely. Accept that this is a tough market. Accept that this will likely take a while. Accept that there may be disappointments. Then work forward with energy and focus – with as much joy as you can muster, and without too much bitching and moaning. (This last admonition applies equally to realtors and clients.)
Working this way will lead to more clarity and flexibility in deciding on wants vs. needs, more rational offers, less anxiety waiting for a response from a seller, and more rational negotiations.
Let go of the pain of the moment. Let go of “the one that got away.” Let go of the summer heat and fatigue. Know that eventually you will find all of what you need, and most of what you want.