I Need Another Vacation

There isn't enough time, cyber-space or sanity to tell you what the past few months have been like around the Sunshine household. Needless to say, I went to visit Jane just to get away from staring at my own four walls so I could stare at hers and wait. A few of the crazier items in our home that we had been waiting to spring to fruition were supposed to happen the week I was gone. That didn't happen, instead, while I was hanging out on Jane's couch, a whole new $**t-show landed on our lap. Jane told me I didn't have to go home. I almost didn't. 

Needless to say, lots of stuff happened last week. It is still happening. It will be happening until further notice. And it behooves me to find some houses to sell. 

I have a few clients who have been on the fence about selling. One is a delightful woman who has tenants in her house. She is in no hurry and I suspect nagging her won't necessarily get me any closer to listing the place. 

Then there's Dee--I love her! She needs to find a place for her tenants to go--like another house--before she can sell their current rental home. There's nothing currently for sale, so I don't see this happening soon.  

And of course, we have John, my brother's very nice but slightly high-strung conspiracy theorist friend,  who eventually wants to sell his mother's home in a retirement community. As we are getting to the end of the retirement community selling season (October through February), I'm not seeing this being a happy ending for the guy. Plus, I suspect the only good that will come from him as a client is blog fodder. 

As for anyone else, sure... I'm up for new clients. However, I hope they want to sell and move out of state. Finding anything to buy locally may not be in their best interests. 

   

That Took A Turn

I'm in McCall Idaho. I'm snowed in. Jane seems to think we are getting out today to go snowshoeing and she wouldn't mind buying a few groceries. I'm not sure that's happening. 

By the way, that road has already been plowed. Twice. They are expecting 15 more inches today. Jane's truck is that blue one in the bottom of the picture. 

Why I'm on Vacation

There are 35,148 people living in my zip code. 

There are only 10 (TEN) houses for sale in my zip code. 

In Maricopa and Pinal County there are a total of 3,218 homes for sale. Total. 

By the way, I hear it snowed in Phoenix today. The irony isn't lost on me. I'm in Boise and there is clear skies and no snow. 

Beth's New Adventure

A few weeks ago the Arizona Department of Real Estate was looking to hire an auditor. I heard about the job from several sources. I'm not gonna lie, I considered applying for it. Honestly, I was qualified.

The job in question was just what the name suggests: someone who audits. Think about an IRS auditor. The auditor would go into real estate brokerages, nose around the broker's files looking for errors and mistakes. If any are found, there are consequences in the form of fines, censuring, continuing education classes and much much more. 

When I was considering applying, I imagined what it would be like. Me, a bureaucrat, doling out policy and punishment (when necessary), being part of the Real Estate Commissioner's Inner Circle. There would be edicts and decrees and all that goes into being a government employee (with no disrespect intended at all to my dear friend who is a government employee). But I couldn't see myself in this role. I am not a cool kid. I am not a rule enforcer. I am not interested in purposely frustrating people and their livelihood all in name of government good. 

Now I know darn well, there is more than just this side of the story and the Department of Real Estate has auditors for perfectly good reasons. Trust me, I've seen my fair share of grievance committee complaints. Let's be honest here. My career trajectory isn't to sell real estate so I can graduate towards dictating government policy. Even if it comes with a steady paycheck and weekends off. I don't have it in me.

But you know who would be great for this type of position? Beth. My sorta teaching boss. She worked in HR for 25 years, got her real estate license, joined every real estate committee she could find, sold a couple of homes, opened a brokerage and then a real estate school. She likes policies and dictating rules. She loves being part of the In Crowd. Beth was born to Administer. 

And she got the position! In fact, even if had I applied, she still would have gotten it--she was already part of the Commissioner's Inner Circle. She has real estate initials, committee credentials after her name and is fluent in procedure manual.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say she will be great for this. She will. I'm glad she got it. I know her husband is disabled and I suspect this COVID time has hit them hard. I wish her all the best. 

There is one slight hiccup that involves me--or would involve me under other circumstances. Beth has to close her brokerage and her real estate school. That means I no longer "officially" teach for her. Not that it matters. She hasn't wanted me teaching for her in months. But perhaps I will start looking at other places to teach once the dust settles on a few other personal commitments I have going on. 

Doing Stuff

What do unemployed realtors do in their spare time--other than read (my latest is Erma Bombeck)? 

Hike.

Refinish old tables. 

Knit. 

Use up their expiring frequent flyer miles. 

Sigh

 

That Didn't Take Long

 Yesterday's E-mail from Sunday's Application: 

Thank you for your interest in the Customer Claims Specialist position.

We have reviewed many candidates, and unfortunately you have not been selected to continue in this hiring process.
Thank you again for your interest in our Company and best of luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Human Resources Department

The Zoom Bug

The First Zoom Call

At the risk of not embracing the spirit of the latest current events, I'm not a fan of Zooming. Yes, it is great to talk to people I wouldn't normally see--I get it. But when a "zoom call" becomes the norm, I'm thinking we've carried things a bit far. 

The two biggest groupies in my life of the Zoom are my broker friend Kaye and Jane. Kaye lives less than a mile away and refuses to be near me in the event I might contaminate her. On the occasions we have met up, generally for a walk or bike ride, she insists on wearing a mask and is mortified I don't feel the same way. We are outside. We are six feet apart. We are both looking forward. Even if I don't agree with her feelings about masks, I think if you are willing to fill up your car and buy groceries, there needs to be a modicum of common sense when it comes to bike riding. However, Kaye is Kaye. She is 70 and has many other wonderful traits, including overlooking my cavalier attitude about this virus. 

Kaye's solution to visiting has become Zoom calls. I don't sit still well enough to Zoom for great periods of time. I would rather, if we are going to chat, just do it over the phone if she is unwilling to do it in person. Instead we have to schedule time to have the same conversations we could just spontaneously have otherwise. No doubt the same topics are covered either way: current books being read (her: John Grisham, me: Harry Potter), current projects (me refinishing a table, her crocheting) and the state of the real estate market (us: Wow! Where's the homes?). 

Jane's interest in Zooming is slightly more puzzling, given I talk to her on the phone about three times a week. However, I think this past Saturday she might have been carrying things a bit too far. She sent me a text at 8 a.m. "When are you free for a zoom call?"

I was running errands and had a lot on my plate, so I responded, "I'm not. What's up?"

"I just need to discuss something with you."

So I called her. "Let's just Zoom later ok? I will send you an invite," was her brisk reply to my phone call. Then she hung up. 

"Is everything ok?" I texted her. 

"Yea, just let me know when you can Zoom." 

 For the remainder of the day I was a mix of curiosity and worry. Was she ok? Was she dying? Randomly  I would hear from her asking if I was home yet so we could, "talk." 

"I can talk any time. Let me call you." I would reply. She wouldn't agree. 

In the end, I got back home around 2 p.m. and let her know I was finally available to sit at my computer and stare into a screen, which we did while Jane just filled me in on the latest--which was not urgent and could have easily been covered hours earlier with a spontaneous phone call. I adore Jane, but it seems she has gotten bit by the Zoom bug too. 

Job Hunting

Every few days, I find job postings that match my presumed skills. Now to be fair, I've pretty much been self-employed most of my adult life, so "matching my skills" depends more on who is asking. I've run businesses, handling everything from reading financials, meeting with SEC attorneys, learning real estate legalities in two states, writing advertisements and marketing collateral, answering phones, hiring assistants, firing assistants, negotiating, taking calls, drinking heavily and weeping uncontrollably. I've written business plans and dissolution agreements--both fabulous prose. I've trained adults and adults who act like children. I've written and presented for a variety of audiences. I've handled the grouchiest and the most gracious. And sometimes the most gracious were back-stabbing harpies and I had to know the difference. 

How exactly does that translate into qualifications for a part-time job I have no idea. 

Ten years ago I worked for a call center for about two years. I loved the job. Real estate was bleak. When real estate picked up, I quit. I was making more in one house sale than I was making in three months answering phones. That is the sum-total of my work for someone other than me experience since 1998.

Anyway, I applied for a job yesterday. The job kind of appealed to me--until I found out it was full-time, but I still went for it. I have way too much time on my hands to think. A change of scenery would be nice. Plus, I don't see a lot of real estate in the near future. 

Other than not having a lot of translatable experience, I ran into a strange issue. I have no business references. I have friends who will say anything in a pinch (Bliz and Jane) but it isn't exactly the same as professional references. I ended up texting two friends who have also bought property from me. They both know me personally and professionally. Both said not a problem, bring it on. Hopefully if they are asked, they can explain the above paragraph to a prospective employer.  

Discouraged

With Steve's commission, I am paying my association dues late. The reason I pay my association dues is so that I can be part of the multiple listing service. Being part of the multiple listing service means I can get paid future commissions. These dues are steep and due twice a year. I am struggling with the idea of paying for this when there is little work in my industry. Essentially the way the market is going, Steve may be my only sale this year. 

Buckaroo's Big-Time Win

Buckaroo age 3.
 

Buckaroo has had some er... "life challenges" of late. He is 18, smart, clever, head-strong (obviously from his father's side of the family), snarky (also obviously from his father's side of the family) and opinionated (and obviously from his father's side of the family). When I was a teenager, my mother would growl, "Someday you have a child just like you!" Dang! She wasn't kidding. 

Anyway, the last several months have been tough for dear Buckaroo. Even without the pandemic in place, life has thrown that kid some curve balls. Sometimes he swung, sometimes he didn't. The ending result was a zero self-esteem and even more head-strong, snark and opinions from this super-smart, now angry kid. There have been many times I have just shaken my head, thinking about how karma is a bitch. I earned this. Buck didn't. 

Anyway, the week after Christmas, I challenged Buckaroo to find a job before New Year's. And he did! While filling out the application for one company, he had to take a small placement test and when he passed, he was thrilled. Passing that placement test opened up a new web page, allowing him to apply for any job listed. He scrolled through the list and was about to click on one when I said, "Woah! You may want to see where that job is located before you apply." And with the wisdom of a young adult without a fully developed frontal lobe and with the animosity that comes with having a parent who is just like him, the kid clicked on the first job he found. 

He was hired for the 83rd Avenue and Buckeye location of this particular company. For anyone who may be reading this, who might not be familiar with me or the Phoenix metro area. That's 30.8 miles from my home. And of course, his job is 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. four days a week. 

I am so happy for him and so proud of his tenacity. As a mother, I'm also relieved. Buckaroo got a life win he so desperately needed. Someone wanted him! A job! He could buy that suit of armor he's been eyeing and the mustang (hopefully the car, not the horse--but one can never be too sure with that guy) he wants.  His mood since he was hired has been amazing. He's been helpful, loving and in such a better frame of mind. He is the dear, sweet boy that reminds me more and more of the man I know as his father and less of me as a teenager. I love this guy! 

There are challenges with this new job. Mainly, he really isn't ready to drive in Phoenix rush hour. Though he has his license, it is obvious he isn't ready. Today I drove him and somewhere around downtown he said, "Wow, I didn't realize what you meant by 'heavy traffic'." Yea... I know. And that wasn't the heaviest we saw. 

There is one school of thought to let him try driving it and see how it goes. Though I'm open for it, the last few months with Buckaroo have taught me sometimes it is better to take things a bit slower. Plus, we nearly got killed by a crazy driver this morning and even Buckaroo admitted he wouldn't have been able to avoid the accident the way I did. 

For the near future, I am making the morning drives, Marty has agreed to make the afternoon pick-ups. I keep thinking, "This is great! I can go see my dad for breakfast on the mornings I drop him off," (which is another 16 miles north, then 45 miles back to my house). It also comes with me promising to say to him every day until he transfers to the location five miles from our home, "You need to see what it will take to transfer to the location FIVE MILES from our home!!!!"

There are also some rewards. Other than the suit of armor and the mustang for him, I've reaped the benefits. Buckaroo was chatty today. I love it when he opens up and just talks to me about anything and everything. He told me about his dreams and what his future plans are (signing up for a class at the college and getting his high school diploma soon) as well as how now that he has disposable income he might see about dating. 

That's fine, but she better live closer to our side of town. 

I Was Supposed to Work Today

Steve's house is closing today. He is signing in a few hours and then he gets keys. The new build process is so different than a buyer purchasing a pre-existing home. When the market is hot like it is now, the builders want the agents as far away as possible. Only through pestering do I actually get updates from the parties who are working with my client. 

However, the builder has my client's ear and I more than one builder has marginalized what I, and every other agent, do. Simply, my client is told we aren't needed because the builder knows what they are doing, so come to them and them alone with questions.  

And that is precisely what Steve has done. Except the time he needed contract clarification. Then he came to me. 

Last week Steve had questions about his loan. I had no idea who the loan officer was and couldn't reach out. The builder incentivizes Steve to use their mortgage company--which he did. The builder also pays me to step away--which I didn't. 

Last week, I reached out to the title office to get some details--which I always do at this point in the transaction. I also reached out Monday and Tuesday too, because they weren't excited to talk to me last week and it took some prodding. In addition to FINALLY reviewing the settlement statement, I found out that I am not welcome at Steve's signing today. Why? Because there is a big bad virus on the loose and people who catch this bug have a 99 percent recovery rate and therefore, I needed to be as far away as possible because the title office told me they would not let me in the building. 

"What if we sign outside and all wear our happy little masks?" I asked. Nope. 

"What if my client insists I come?" They will refuse to sign him and then he is is breach of contract. 

Finally I called Steve and asked how he would like to handle this. I don't miss my clients' signings as a rule. I offered to wait in the car in the parking lot just in case he had questions. He said it was fine. He had already signed "a bunch of stuff" this week electronically (really????) and it was just a few more forms. He did promise to call if he had issues, though he didn't say who he would call. 

I'm Not Making This Up

 As of today there are 3,451 single family homes for sale in Maricopa and Pinal County. To give you a reference: we have 5 million people in the Phoenix metro area. 

Here's proof. 

So Glad THAT Was Resolved

Steve called me at 9 p.m. Friday night. He had a question about his loan. Now then, I sell houses, I don't do mortgages. So, I did what seemed like the most reasonable scenario: I told him to call his loan officer. After all, the loan officer is privy to that information and I am not. 

Steve however, did not feel that was a reasonable solution. He told me it was "late" and he didn't want to "bother" the guy. Therefore, he called me. 

I tried my best to walk him through his question. From what he was telling me it sounded like his actual taxes and insurance were higher than originally estimated. However, the best way to find out the true answer was to call his loan officer. 

Saturday morning I followed up with Steve. He did not call the loan officer. Instead, he called a friend of his who has a commercial real estate license in another state who said it sounded like the taxes and insurance were actually a bit higher than originally estimated. His friend's answer satisfied Steve enough that he didn't feel the need to double check with his loan officer just to be sure. 

I Worked Yesterday

 I did! I really did! 

Steve--you might remember him--is closing on his new house. It is a lovely place and will be much lovelier once he adds furniture and other basics. 

Yesterday, Steve had his builder walk-through. It was supposed to be about two hours. However, no battleplan ever outlasts the enemy. And yesterday was no exception. 

Generally a new-build walk-through consists of a builder rep going through the empty home while the buyer (and his agent) look for dings in the paint, cracks in the windows and other minor issues that might need attention before closing. For this particular honor, the buyer (and his agent) use blue painter's tape to mark these imperfections so that the builder and his representatives can fix the transgressions prior to closing. The blue tape is also useful for such activities as taking a wide swath, sticking it across the master bathroom wall and writing, "Install Mirror!!!", which Steve's home was unfortunately missing.  

In yesterday's case, I brought my own roll of blue painter's tape--a trick of the trade, after doing this for so many years. It was almost gone by the time we were done. It isn't that Steve's home has zillions of imperfections, it is because Steve brought his parents along for this ride. 

I should say, I think Steve's parents are wonderful people. I like them even better after seeing what kind of man they raised in Steve. They are kind and loving to their son. They want the best for him. And even though they are on the far side of 80, it is obvious they still have a strong attachment to making sure things are perfect for their son. Therefore, more blue painter's tape than I would have thought humanly possible was used for all sorts of things like smudges on the windows. There was a (possible) dent in the brand-new stove. The door hinges were dirty. The outside stucco was uneven. The watering system watered for too long or too short the amount of time for the plants outside. Of course, Steve doesn't own the house or the plants yet, but his parents seemed to gloss over that tid-bit. And though this seems petty, I don't blame Steve's folks one bit. I'm glad they were there giving us another set of eyes, because they did find several significant issues (significant as in cosmetic--which is what we were looking for).  

Anyway, these delightful people just have their son's best interests at heart. The construction supervisor seemed to understand that. Steven and I did too. Plus, lucky for Steve, he had a good four hours to kill doing this walk-through. As for me, I enjoyed talking to them. It was a nice distraction from the lack of socialization I've had lately. I would have even been ok with another four hours of Steve and his folks. But next time I really would like to sit down at some point. 

Lauren

My girlfriend Lauren called me. She found a house that was simply perfect for her. Perfect! The house in question was in the right neighborhood, great schools, the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It had all the upgrades she ever wanted. In fact, it was the house directly behind her home, not to mention the exact floorplan of her home. 

And, when could she buy it?  

This is why I'm the world's worst sales person. I had to break the news to Lauren. There is little inventory. Most sellers will not allow for buyer contingencies, which means the buyer has to sell their home first--which is something Lauren and Mr. Lauren would need to do. She is most likely going to be in a bidding war with three other buyers--if the house is really still active on MLS. So, she would have to sell her house with no take-backs, and then hope she was the winning offer on the new house. What if she wasn't? What then? Not that it would stop me from helping her, but I wanted to make sure she knew the realities of the situation. 

Plus, this fabulous home she was looking at is the exact same floorplan as her house. 

"But this one is upgraded..." she said. 

Lauren is right. The house she is looking at is upgraded. In fact, it is way too upgraded for the neighborhood. But she too can have that same level of upgrades by taking out a loan on her home for far less than she is going to spend on buying a new  property. By the way, for grins, I ran comps. This house is still active on the market because it is $100,000 overpriced for the neighborhood. However, I doubt that will stop some buyer who is more desperate than Lauren. When I showed the comps to Lauren, she agreed the price was steep. However, she admitted she was planning on offering a "low ball" (in this case, somewhat reasonable) offer.  

I'd love to help Lauren out. She'd be a great client. I love her and her family. I want them to be happy where they live and do what is right for her and her folks. But this move doesn't make sense. Even she conceded that it would be a better strategy to just fix up her home at this rate than mess with potentially being homeless. 

Happy Birthday

Today is my brokerage's third birthday. 

After the bankruptcy, I wasn't sure I wanted to start another business. I'm grateful for my dear friend who encouraged me to go for it. 

Thank you, Dear Friend. 

There are 3,835 Single Family Homes for Sale

The past several months have been transitional times around the ol' Sunshine manor. We have done some major purging of stuff and things we don't need after living in the same house for 18 years. This past weekend, after double-checking with my brothers, I even sent my grandmother's antique dishes to a place where someone else might find a way to love on them. My mother would be horrified to find out we didn't want these family heirlooms. We aren't ungrateful, we just don't need them. 

I am tired of keeping what I don't need. I will never have a dinner party that requires crystal plates. I know this because the last several years' worth of dinner parties have been with plastic plates and flatware I re-wash to use for the next dinner party. My sister-in-law mocks me for being so cheap. Yet, she doesn't host the quarterly dinner parties, does she?  

This purge also goes for books. Bonus Mom is turning in her grave at the number of books that have gone to that special book farm where we must never, ever visit them again, lest they follow us back home. Marty is vacillating between being slightly unnerved at my sudden change of behavior and overjoyed by how many books I willingly parted with.  

In addition to books and dishes, there have been more homeschool and craft supplies, clothes, trinkets, jig saw puzzles, extra sewing supplies, do-dads, old electronics, kid toys and much, much more. It is as if once I started the purge, I haven't be able to stop. 

The one area I would really like to purge is my office. However, I don't know how much I can get rid of until I make a major commitment one way or another to real estate. Recently. I donated a ton of office supplies I no longer need to to St. Vincent de Paul, but I still have so much more. I know decisions need to be made in this area of my life. And maybe I will make the decisions. Given the lack of home inventory, maybe the decision will be made for me.