Navigating Real Estate In Winter, Market Shifts, And Human Emotions ~ They’re All Slippery Slopes
We have navigated through some very interesting challenges over the past couple of years; interest rates, a government shutdown, inventory shortages, shifting consumer prices, and a presidential election.
Being a baby boomer, and having gone through some very tough economic times, the things that have always been my consistent tool of dealing with them are a positive attitude, and the will to improve my situation. I know everyone’s situations vary, plain and simple. This is just my view. My family was lower-middle class, and my dad did whatever was necessary to feed our family and provide a stable and loving home. Many people don’t experience that gift, which truly breaks my heart. But the greatest gifts my dad gave me by example, were those of a strong work ethic, and a love for people. The two tools above have guided me, and oftentimes “pushed” me, through the toughest times. 2008, 2009, and 2010 are the best examples, when MANY Realtors left the industry to find employment elsewhere, or chose that as their time to retire. As a newly married man with no emergency reserves and a negative net worth, positive attitude and work ethic was all I had, but it provided the fuel necessary to push through those times and provide for my new family. All that to say, when I passed my real estate exam, it was late 2008 and heading into winter. Even in that market, homes were still sold (and many more were leased due to negative equity and job relocations), because there are always circumstances creating selling and buying situations. My December 5th blog talks about that very topic (shameless plug alert!) on our website. Now we see the first and fourth quarters of each year perform extremely well, and the buying pressures of the spring and summer months in recent years have created a strong pool of home buyers that re-enter the market in the colder months to face less buying competition in “prime time.” Our real estate locally has become more of a year-round market than most people realize, and the national news continues to report on the markets that are experiencing decline, not the markets that are doing well to hold their own, like Michigan.
Oftentimes, ok, most of the time, one political party blames the other for everything. Egg prices, for example, were most affected by the avian flu, not by policy. One party certainly leans more heavily on domestic energy, so fuel prices can tend to be lower during those administrations. But I have watched political posturing and media attention change for over 50 years. Honest journalism has become an oxymoron (in most cases), and it makes my eye twitch to see people so polarized and negatively affected by such blatant dishonesty. But the one constant I hold onto is that there is a lot I can influence within the four walls of our office, and our home. I go back to positive attitude and work ethic here, because ultimately, I know that my efforts make more of a difference in our business, and in our team, than anything else. Do I have days of frustration and just say it’s time to retire? Sure. But since our business is almost 90% organic (sphere of influence, client referrals, past clients, etc.), most of our clients tend to view the world similarly. The reward of both business and relationships this year has been truly memorable and emotionally rewarding. Quite possibly 2025 was the most emotionally rewarding year I have ever experienced.
I wrap up this first article of the exciting new year to say that for us, seasonal and market shifts, compounded by human emotions, are something we must navigate continually, both from a personal household, and business perspective. The one thing Jennifer and I have always agreed on under our roof, and committed to, is living below our means, no matter how our business performs. That topic can be a series of articles, because so many people’s circumstances are beyond their control and the situations that created it. Again, this is just my experience. Keeping our household budget as lean as possible, while still enjoying life the best we can (and we do), dramatically lessens the stresses of market shifts and ultimately, our emotions. Being self-employed is not for the faint of heart, as I have never had a paid vacation day or paid sick day, and that just isn’t for everyone. If I don’t perform and we don’t treat our clients to the best of our abilities, we don’t have a business. If you are self employed and you don’t thank EVERY customer when they refer you… you should. I’m also not talking about a quick text message either, and you can call me old school and outdated all you want. But nothing is more impactful than a live phone call and a handwritten note, plain and simple. Building a business of people you truly care about, appreciate, experience life with and celebrate, is a business that is less affected by market shifts and seasons. And most importantly, it is a business that gives more meaning to your own life and is truly more enjoyable.
That’s just my two cents to finish my January thoughts. Make it a great 2026!
