What no one is talking about in this real estate market

The worst kept secret in real estate is that it is kind of crazy. “Bidding wars,” “waived contingencies,” “over ask,” “offer deadlines,” and “cash” are just some of the terminologies you hear in the press. Most news stories and journalists are writing all about the plight of the buyer or the ridiculous prices and terms sellers are getting for their homes. A very uneven, and sometimes outright unfair, market indeed.

If you agree and are looking to reinforce this thinking, then I welcome you to do a simple online search and have at it. But today, I write to cover a different aspect of this market that no one is talking about: The effect this is having on us realtors. Now I know most people don’t care in this “shut up and do your job” society, but as a real estate agent, I wanted to respectfully ask for your time here.

Here’s the truth: Most agents are good people doing their best in a difficult market. Most agents care an awful lot about their clients and we share in those client’s triumphs and disappointments. Are we perfect? Nope. But we are people.

As a listing agent (where I represent the seller) in a multioffer situation, I have to tell many buyer agents that their client didn’t get the house. This isn’t something I take lightly. If you were a fly on the wall in my home, you’d hear me tell my wife how much I wish I could cut the house up into equal pieces and give it to everyone.

I never forget that on the other side of those offers documents is usually a family. Perhaps one that has placed multiple offers. Someone who has sold their home and is not sure where they’re going to live. A set of parents who have once again gotten their kids’ hopes up about the house … or so often I hear that they’ve stopped telling them about the offers in fear of yet another disappointment. They can’t bear to tell them they’ve lost out on yet another one. This breaks my heart, to be honest.

You see. a house is an interesting thing in that it is not just a house. It is an extension of a family’s identity. It is the environment the parents provide for their children. Not only the house itself either, but how it is decorated and maintained. The landscaping, the furniture too. It’s not just a bunch of building materials organized into a structure. The human mind can often begin to “nest” as soon as it starts walking through a home. So to be rejected time and time

again can be very distressing,

especially for the men.

And at the center of this entire thing you’ve got the real estate agent. On every deal, we are encouraging,

educating, communicating, strategizing, and yes … consoling and commiserating. It takes a toll. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. It pays well and

I’ve found a lot of success in this challenging market, but it doesn’t come without a cost.

So maybe the next time you see a realtor you don’t

ask “How’s the market?” Perhaps instead you ask, “How you doing?” Maybe just try it and make a realtor’s day.

Seth Lejeune is a partner/team leader at REMAX HOMEPOINT in Royersford and can be reached at asksethanything@gmail.

Lejeune