Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I’m blogging in between trick or treaters. Each year I have an internal debate – will I stay home and hand out treats, or be the Halloween Grinch and turn out all the lights. Almost grinched it this year, but my conscience got the best of me, so after a last minute run to Walgreens for M&Ms, I’m ready for all the angels and goblins.

I’m so fortunate to live and sell real estate in a neighborhood like Arden Park where children can feel safe and welcomed when they knock on the neighborhood doors. Almost three decades ago, when my three sons were in grammar school right here in Arden Park, we’d kick off the season with a Halloween festival at Mariemont Elementary.

On the big night, my husband would join about six or seven other dads with their costumed kids in tow, and they would all head down Fitch Way, moving from house to house, because everyone knew that’s where the best treats could be found. I hear they had a great time. I stayed home where it was warm and handed out treats. My boys would come home with their pillow cases full of candy, too heavy to carry.

Of course, after such a haul of candy, I can remember the struggle to keep the boys from eating everything all at once and making themselves sick. Sometimes I wondered if we should just toss it all in the garbage, but somehow we’d work it out. I stashed their candy on top of the refrigerator when they were very young and doled out slowly. As they got older, I gave up the fight. Nature has a way of letting you know if you’ve eaten too many sweets!

Where does all the time go. Remember the song, “Turn Around”? Sure feels like I was just applying the final touches to their own costumes not long ago. Now two of them are fathers themselves, taking their own place in the Halloween trick or treating traditions. Late afternoon today, I dropped in to see three of my grandsons before they left to go door-knocking in Sierra Oaks where they live. They looked so adorable. A five-year-old pirate, and the two-year old twins dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Spiderman. My youngest grandson, I’ve heard, is dressed as a crab. He’s just learning to walk, so being a crab is quite easy. They live on seven acres in Sequim, Washington. I’ll have to settle for photos. I treasure the pictures of my own sons all dressed up.

Hope you managed to hold the Halloween Grinch at bay and continue to find many opportunities to keep the holiday spirit alive while Mother Nature changes her wardrobe into fall colors and then strips herself bare in preparation for winter. It’s raining outside and the children are heading for drier hauntings. I’ve got candy left over. But I’m glad I participated.

Tomorrow I help three different couples search for homes.  I hope it’s not still raining.  If you ever need help with your own real estate needs, or want to see what’s new on the market, visit my website at www.DeLongTeam.com.

Hello world!

Took a class today in blogging for Realtors.  Don’t want to be the last one on my block to try it.  So, let’s see how it all works.  “Hello world!”  That’s the title the site gives you to start with.  Wow.  That’s a big audience.  I think I’ll focus on a smaller group and if the world wants to listen in, that will be great!

I may be new to blogging, but not to real estate.  September 1999, just over nine years ago, I picked up my lockbox key from Sacramento Association of Realtors, and launched into what has proven to be a wonderful, wild ride.  Hundreds of deals later, I’m still surprised by how unique each transaction is.  Some were smooth, easy from beginning to end.  Others required every skill I could muster to get the deal closed.  Always it’s a team effort.

I counted once how many different people are in just the usual plain vanilla sale–buyer(s) and their agent, seller(s) and their agent, buyer’s lender,  home inspector, pest inspector, underwriter, appraiser,  escrow officer, and insurance broker–that adds up to eleven and doesn’t count the brokers, transaction coordinators, office assistants and countless others in the background.  Today, plain vanillas are the exception.  Buyers are more likely to find they must make offers on bank-owned (REO) properties or short sales, adding another whole layer of complexity to the transaction.

I’m grateful everyday that I’ve had experience as a teacher, spent time getting trained as a mediator, and learned to facilitate small groups.  Even my experience as a chaplain has added an important dimension, especially when it seems only a wing and a prayer will save the day!

If you’d like a great resource for your real estate questions, visit my website:  www.DeLongTeam.com