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Earlier this month, I visited San Quentin with my husband's law school class. Cliff, whose legal practice has primarily focused on post-conviction remedies, has hosted this annual, student field trip for many years, and after nearly two decades of politely deferring his invitation, I wanted to know if "humanity" lived inside those imposing walls. (It does.)
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"Do we really have to do that?" the Seller asked. "None of that was done when we bought the house." (True.)
Uhhh, when exactly was that? We understand that when Realtors show up "recommending" a long list of items to attend to, our suggestions are rarely met with enthusiasm and zeal. (Why would they be?) And it wouldn't be too far afield to admit that there's something innately offensive about Realtors® explaining why it's important to "neutralize" the design to make it more current. (It's because we're usually selling to a younger generation.) We also acknowledge that selling real estate has become a HUGE and inconvenient production often involving many moving parts that quite frankly, weren't required two decades ago when you bought the home, well before Instagram, Meta, and Tik Tok became the vessels for mass marketing. All week long I've been pondering the phrase, "hope is a discipline," which I heard in an NPR interview last weekend regarding the ongoing struggles around civil rights and reparations in the U.S. (We've a long way to go.) But the concept of hope as a discipline aptly applies to global warming, gun violence, "Black Lives Matter," "Me Too," the attack on Israel, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, 60 million refugees worldwide, rising crime, homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, book banning, reproductive rights, equality, lack of education, clean water, etc., etc., etc. (Pick your battle; there's no shortage of problems).
In a world that seems increasingly hostile and full of despair, "hope" can be hard to muster. "I've called a dozen insurers," my client said, "and NO ONE will agree to insure the property!" (You're not the first I've heard this from.)
Whether its water intrusion, overhanging trees, wood-shake roofs, knob & tube wiring, advanced age, or any of 101 excuses the insurance companies have put on their 'hit list," the latest hurdle with respect to Real Estate ISN'T the fact that we're facing the highest interest rates in nearly 25 years, it's the inability to insure properties once in contract. If you're under the impression that the current insurer will be only too happy to continue to insure a home they already cover (That would make good sense, wouldn't it?), you'd be sadly mistaken . . . |
AuthorJulie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 775 humorous but always informative, essays on life and real estate. 
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