Inspired Real Estate For Today

One never knows how a transaction will turn out.  Nor are we ever fully cognizant of the manner in which our lives and experiences will intersect. What happened this past week is a testimony to the mysterious workings of life that have a way of binding us together.

A couple of years ago, Ed Vogt, a real estate agent with Audu Real Estate started working with a new home buyer.  The process would be intermittent, interrupted by life from time to time, but Faye the home buyer and Ed continued forward with dodged determination and goodwill. 

As the Broker, I was not intimately involved with the home search, but would receive updates from Ed from time to time.  It was not until Ed went on vacation, that I first had the opportunity to speak with Faye.  She was interested in looking at a home we had listed & was trying to determine if she would qualify for the special loan program offered by the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Faye has an engaging personality which invites others in.  I learned that not only was she looking for her own home, but she was constantly on the search for homes that would work well for friends who also needed affordable housing.  When Ed returned, Faye continued the search.

Around about the same time that Ed started working with Faye, I ran into some past clients in the parking lot of the mall.  It had been several years since I sold them a home and I was thrilled to see them again.  They were there as an extended family and I was introduced to a sister whom I will call Sally (not her real name) who would be looking for a home in the future.

Well, a couple of months ago, Sally called and we started the search for the perfect home.  Ed was also assigned to assist Sally & showed her several prospective condominiums.  But it wasn't until they entered the 32nd St. Condo project that their jaws dropped! 

These units were just gorgeous.  A warm tawny earthtone graced the walls which were framed by softly painted woodwork and four panelled doors.  The counter tops had a granite looking finish and were topped by hickory cabinets.  New linoleum and an over-sized deck made this unit a fantastic deal!  Sally bought her new home!

All our paths would not cross again until this past Friday when we all met together for two closings.  When I arrived, the first of the two closing had just completed and some additional paperwork that was needed from the seller was being obtained.  Ms. Faye was in the parking lot.  I had never met her, so when I went in Ed asked if I had had the opportunity to talk with her.  She then introduced me to a lady who is hands down the MOST JOYFUL home buyer I had ever met.  She glowed with excitement about obtaining her keys.  The fact that there was a little delay in the process did absolutely NOTHING to dampen her enthusiasm.

I went into the second closing with Sally.  This closing was delayed because of a back-up in the title company's schedule so Ed had to leave.  As we all sat waiting for the paperwork, Faye came back in because she was still waiting for the last bit of documentation from the home owner.

I was with Sally in the lobby talking with the home owner/builder of the condominums.  After some time, the builder said..."you sound like you have a little bit of an accent.  Where are you from?"  When I shared with him that I was from Nigeria, his eyes grew wide and he remarked..."I went to school there in first grade!"

It turns out that the builder and I had both gone to the same school, Hillcrest in Nigeria.  His dad, who had also attended the closing, but had left a little earlier... had taken a year off or work in the late 1960's to build several projects in my home country which had included a chapel for the school.  What a small world!

In the meantime, Faye's homeowner arrived with the necessary paperwork & there were hugs all around!  The builder insisted that I come over to a nearby restaurant to meet his parents and talk about their time overseas. Sally watched this whole amazing reunion with wide eyed amazement.  You see it turns out that the other Realtor was a cousin of a girl that I had gone to highschool with overseas.  We never understood that we had that connection until that moment!  Wow!

As we parted company, I felt a sense of awe.  What a gift we have as real estate professionals to be included in the special moments of people's lives.  What an honor it is to participate in a transaction which impacts our community in such an important way. 

I marvel at how all those extraordinary connections which spanned decades and continents could intersect in such a remarkable way in two homes with two happy ladies & one long closing.  It reminded me of this one thing...selling a house ALWAYS involves much more than meets the eye! There are all sorts of miraculous stories just underneath the surface, just waiting for our discovery.

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