What Lies Ahead ?

"What seems to be the problem?" the acupuncturist kindly asked as I delicately placed myself on her table. (And by delicately, I mean like a stiff, uncoordinated clod.)
  
"I think I've pinched a nerve in my back," I responded between short, painful breaths. "It's been out for about 10 days."
  
"And you didn't think to see someone sooner?"  Sharon politely inquired while messaging my back and trying to ascertain the source. (A bad muscle strain as it turned out.)
  
Here's the thing, it's not that I'm afraid of needles(I'm not. They positively LOVE me at the Blood Bank), or that I kept expecting the pain to resolve on its own while I toughed it out (I did), or that I take my reasonably good health for granted (I do), or that I don't believe there is a place for non-traditional Eastern medicine(why not?) It's that I'm truly a skeptic when it comes to ME and the unconventional. Moreover, I'm also completely inexperienced and dare I say uncomfortable with the unknown and "what ifs."  (As in "What if you tried something new for a change?")  
  
I'm embarrassed to admit that I have so little experience with massage, supplements, crystals, Reiki (What's that?) and the like, that acupuncture never even crossed my mind until a caring colleague suggested I see her practitioner and give it a go (thank you). I was further convinced when I called Kaiser only to discover that the first available appointment was more then a week away (the nerve of professionals taking a break over the holidays). With few familiar options available, my mind -and twisted body began to open up to other possibilities . . .
 
The concept of "new possibilities" has been very much in the forefront these days as I said "good-bye" to one son as he entered college. "Good-bye" to another as he headed for New Zealand and parts unknown to work and travel abroad. "Hello" to the new house (we're still in the getting-to-know-you phase), and "hello" to my 90-year-old mother-in-law who has taken up permanent residence in the garden-apartment below and isn't necessarily overjoyed about it. (Giving up one's independence is never easy.)
  
So what "possibilities" lay ahead for you in 2016 as they relate to Real Estate?

• It's possible you have a move in your future.
• It's possible you'll stay put. (Call me either way!)
• It's possible home prices will continue to rise.
• It's possible they won't. (We really don't know but believe the rapid increase of 2015 is unsustainable.)
• It's possible the housing market will correct. (The stock market has had a fairly volatile week.)
• It's probable that interest rates will rise. (Count on it.)
• It's possible you may need to broaden your horizons and seek new avenues.

Absent a crystal ball, none of us knows the future with any real certainty so I can only do my best to steer and advise you in a supportive way, with the best of intentions and integrity guiding the way.  My point is that we are, all of us, constantly being pushed into "new possibilities" whether we like them or not. How we choose to confront or better yet, embrace, such possibilities is ALL we get to control along the road of life. 
  
This holds true for Buyers and Sellers as well as they struggle with whether to sell now or later, how to transition from being a Buyer into a Seller, how to compete in an over-heated marketplace with too little inventory to meet demand, and most importantly, how to truly LET GO!  (Been there, done that.)
  
In my experience, "letting go" is always the most difficult part of the equation, especially if we aren't exactly certain what we are moving towards . . .  Try to remember, I'm here to help facilitate your needs and also, that we don't always have to know "what's next."  Sometimes, we are merely taking a leap of faith as we move from one phase of life into another. 
  
So what if you handed over the reins (and by "reins," I mean your keys) and let me take charge for just a bit in order to best meet your goals?  What if you trusted the process and bought the house instead of backing away?  What if you made this your year with the understanding that real estate is a long-term investment and that our homes aren't really an investment at all, but an emotional fulfillment on a different level altogether? What if fear of the unknown didn't rule your decisions? What if you truly "let go?"  How would that feel?  Could you take that leap of faith with me and rely on my vast experience to get the job done correctly?  While it's not needles per se, I don't deny it can be a painful process nonetheless, on the bumpy road to "what lies ahead." With your courage and faith, and my expertise and support, we can make great strides together.
  
How can I help you?
 
Visit my new website here!

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