Elizabeth Newlin - Arizona Real Estate Agent

Today we are closing on the second of my good friend, and current client’s houses. Woo hoo! I have spoken with the title company and they are waiting on the wired funding from the Mortgage company, and I have spoken with the Mortgage company, who has sent the funds. So, right at this moment we are waiting for the money, which is floating through space, to make it to it’s destination, so the title company can record the deed and close escrow. There’s absolutely no one I can call and urge to hurry up or beg to do their job. We just have to wait. Which is not easy.

I know my client is feeling tense right now because she currently officially owns no houses. They are leasing-back their old house through Friday (it closed yesterday) and will close on their new house some time today. I can completely understand this stress. Every single one of my clients has said to me at some point, “I’m homeless!” All of the transactions I have done so far have been double-sided and have included a short lease-back, so that my clients could close on their old house and therefore have the money to buy their new house. It’s actually the easiest way for the whole thing to be set up, because then they don’t have to move twice, but it does involve this little moment of panic. It’s a natural reaction.

See it’s difficult for those of us who are control-freaks. I can say this about my current client, because she knows it, and hey, I am totally one too, and I know it as well. We’ve discussed before that we think it has something to do with our birth order. We’re both first children. But I digress. Real estate is a bucking bronco. Most of the time you can’t tell it where to go, you just have to hold on tight and hope you stay on top. Deep breaths, for those of us who aren’t good at not being in charge.

Is it just me, or do Anthony LaPaglia and Captain Feathersword look an awful lot alike:

OK, maybe you can’t tell here, but if you ever get to watch an episode of The Wiggles, check out that jolly, feather-toting pirate. The resemblance is eerie… and they’re both from Austrailia… I think Mr. LaPaglia is moonlighting between episodes of Without a Trace, is all I’m saying.

The long holiday weekend wrapped up beautifully for my family and we are happily back to our normal routine this morning. I have two houses closing this week and am not anticipating any problems.

Anyway, one of the activities we took part in this weekend was a trip to the Dobson Ranch Library Park. It was kind of an impromptu thing, but it ended up being perfect timing because not only was the weather stunning, but a group of men were racing their sailboats on the water next to the park.

We sat in the grass with the warm sun on our backs and watched as they placed their boats in the water and then took practice runs around the course. Finally, it was time to start and they all lined up at the starting point. As soon as someone signaled the start of the race, the breeze that had been blowing consistently all morning stilled and the boats sat motionless in the water. It was one of those moments that felt like such a metaphor for life: GET READY, GET SET… everyone just sit and wait. But shortly the wind picked back up and the boats began their race. It just goes to show, it doesn’t matter how hard you try, somethings just can’t be planned for or avoided and you have to wait them out. Such is the life of anyone involved in real estate, I’ve come to learn. In the end it doesn’t matter. Everything still happens, just at it’s own speed.