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Real Estate and Grief

It doesn't matter if REOs are here to stay or short sales are the new REOs. It's the sense of helplessness that it brings to the homeowners and agents alike.We are talking about the new revolution in real estate.

Will you be a fighter?

And yet, a new model of real estate snuck up on most of us. It started with a small band of rebels, the ones who threw away the old, tired rules and instituted fresh new ones. The rest of us stood by and watched, some of us in horror, some of us in awe, most of us hoping the rebellion would be short-lived, that soon we could return to the old model and the old way of doing things. But the rebels’ voices became louder and more strident.

They called it ‘The Short Sale Revolution’

Ultimately, we couldn’t do anything but notice.To notice, though, is not to accept.

First, we had to go through the 5 Stages of Grief.

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
At first, we entered a state of denial. This can’t be happening, we said to ourselves. And even if it is, it won’t last long.

Then we got angry ... good and angry. At the banks, at Wall Street, at Washington, at buyers, at sellers ... at the unfairness of it all. Why me? we whined. Why real estate? Why my profession? Why now?

Then we bargained for the old ways, stuck to our business models, and dug in our heels. Wishing and hoping all the while for everything to return to the way things used to be.

Towards the end, we became depressed, wondering if anything would ever be the same again. We experienced feelings of hopelessness and frustration. We mourned the loss of business and the putting off of dreams. We felt a lack of control and were confused about what to do next. Sometimes we cried. Other times we yelled and shook our fists at the sky.

Finally, realizing change was here to stay, we accepted the truth, and more importantly, understood it wasn’t our fault. We began to look for solutions. We started revising our business plans, throwing out what didn’t work, and trying new ways. During the process, we adapted to the way things are and not the way we wished them to be. We also learned that this is an ongoing process. If ‘this’ doesn’t work, maybe ‘that’ will. The learning curve is steep. The rules change constantly. We have to adapt every minute, every hour, every day. And we have to remember that we’re not only reinventing our business but reinventing ourselves.

What happens when foreclosures and short sales work their way out of the system ... one year, two years, three years from now? What then? Will all our hard work be wasted? Not in the least. Because we will have survived and become stronger for it. And we’ll be better at what we do.

It’s the dawn of a new era. Welcome it. Embrace it. Spit in its eye when you feel the urge. But keep on ‘keeping on’. The real estate market is here to stay, and so are we.

Need help in Southern California short sales, reos, loan modifications

call me

Carmen Cooley Graham 619 218 7390

Keller Williams

DRE # 012961519
Don't be a victim I am here to help.
www.Carmensellssandiego.com

carmencooleygraham@yahoo.com

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Loan Modification For Unemployed Workers

It came out unnotice today a proposal from HOPE NOW Alliance to consider the benefits received by an unemployed worker to be used to determine eligibility for a loan modification under the Making Home Affordable program (HAMP). The process would be streamlined with the several government agencies to verify the benefits. With unemployment that will rise to double digits, this could be a major bump to the recovery. However what will happen once the benefits are over and the homeowner has not found a job yet?
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