Today a fellow REALTOR and dare I say friend posted his foreclosure story here on Agent Genius.
It was clear from his writing how difficult it was for him to share this tale; the agonizing he had experienced prior to hitting the publish button was clear.
I read the post and realized at the end that I had been holding my breath. My anxiety had risen and I was really wanting a cry.
This reaction wasn’t strictly related to the post, although it was all about empathizing with it. My reaction was one of total UNDERSTANDING. As those of you who have followed my writings know: I just barely missed the foreclosure bullet, myself.
There But For The Grace….
In my writings many agents have reached out to let me know that they, too, have a distressed home situation. They don’t comment on my blog posts or put it on twitter or facebook….these are private messages of solidarity, understanding and camaraderie.
So now another agent had the guts to stand up and share his story. I applaud that spirit. His gutsy post makes me wonder:
HOW MANY MORE?
If he and I are willing to share our story, how many more are out there that can’t/won’t/don’t share?
I wager it is a lot.
Here is the thing: as professionals in the home owning business we think it looks terrible if we run into trouble. We are supposed to be super heroes of the homes. We don’t fail or flounder, WE SELL HOUSES gosh darnit!
News flash people: the housing market took a huge hit. We earn our living on the housing market. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that many, many real estate professionals are going to be in a bad place with their own mortgage during times like these.
You don’t have to write a post, you don’t have to respond to this one, but if you are reading this and are in trouble with your mortgage: PLEASE be kind to yourself. Please know that you are in good company and that more people understand your circumstance than don’t.
What helped me was working with home retention. It made me feel better to help others in the same boat and gave me the courage to continue to work. You can get yours back, too. You will find the way.
I look upon my situation now, almost two years later, with dreamlike (nightmarish?) quality. I have moved on and am recovering…you will, too. Better days are coming friends, let’s march there together!
