In real estate, we talk a lot about market value, and, that's important. It's important to buyers, and sellers, not to mention, banks.

But, there is another kind of value, something more personal, that we place on things, maybe especially on our homes. And, sometimes, that is far more important than anything else.

I think this year, more than any other, has highlighted that value difference.

Home prices are rising fast, and much of that can be explained by economics ~ low inventory, high demand, etc. But, this week, for me and my clients, was a huge lesson in paying for what you need, when you need it.

In two different scenarios this week, the buyers were at a point where they NEEDED to buy. With offer competitions, it's tough to find that sweet spot that will win the bid, but, not put themselves in a position where they've succumbed to the frenzy of winning at any cost.

As an agent, it's my job to calculate market value to help determine an offer price. But, that's really just the baseline. As a human, it's sometimes more important to figure out what that second value is ~ that value that speaks to the safety, security, and comfort of having a home in the right place, with the right amenities, and at the time it's really needed.
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Sometimes, as it did this week for my clients, that personal value blows the market value out of the water. And, that's OK. If this year has taught us anything, it's that quality of life is the most important thing.

Do you ever feel as if time is running out?
I don't mean in that "there's not enough hours in the day" way. I'm thinking bigger than that.
You know, things like the big life things you want to accomplish. A big life project you haven't started yet, haven't finished yet, or, haven't even thought of yet?
Maybe it's winter coming, or a reaction to a surprise family health issue in our midst, or, maybe it's just getting older. I've been feeling a little anxious about time passing by too fast lately.
But, a conversation this week with a dying woman has given me a whole other perspective. This feeling of "time running out" is really not a bad thing. If you can accept and embrace it, all it really means is that something is about to change. And, all we can do is prepare for that change as best we can, without knowing how it's going to turn out.
Time passing isn't about an end to be feared, it's about something different coming. It's just the sound of one door closing, and another opening.
And, that's something to be celebrated.