A young person recently asked me if I thought it was a good time to make an investment in real estate. He had a couple opportunities but was “frozen” because he was afraid of what the future might hold. I told him that in spite of the uncertainty of today’s economy that I do believe this is a great time to invest and that there might even be some unusual once-in-a-lifetime opportunities available today. Then I shared some perspective that I think applies to anyone who is interested in building a future for themselves and their families.
There are always reasons to be pessimistic. This year it’s the housing market and unemployment, next year it might be inflation and the year after that it could be fears of nuclear proliferation or terrorism. The truth is that there has never been a time when there hasn’t been some looming scary possibility that could cause us to focus on the negative and freeze… but it’s also true that there are always great opportunities available to those who do their research, have vision, and who are bold enough to say “I’m not going to allow risk and the possibility of failure to prevent me from moving toward success”. The key is staying optimistic even when things get rough.
Are you considering getting your real estate license but are “frozen” because you’re just not sure if the time is right? Asking the question “is this the right time” is a healthy thing to do, but standing still is not. If you read this blog very often you know that we are of the opinion that this may be the best time ever to enter real estate as a career and we explain why in various posts. If negativity has you at a stand-still I’d like to suggest that you shake it off and go positive! I know that can be easier said than done so here are a few tips for staying optimistic even during difficult times.
1. Remind yourself of the times you’ve seen bad situations turn around. Here’s an example from my life… I watched the value of homes in California (including mine) fall through the floor in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s resulting in the same kind of “upside down” mortgage situation that we’re seeing today. I also watched those prices recover more quickly than I would have thought possible. The bad situation ended and turned around fast – I saw it with my own eyes.
I have dozens of examples like this that I can pull out and meditate on when I get “scared” and feel like giving in to negativity. I’d recommend that if you don’t have a list of your own that you get out a pad of paper (or open a Word doc) and make a list – it’s a very encouraging exercise!
2. Hang out with people who have positive attitudes and who encourage you. There’s nothing less helpful than having people constantly reminding you of how bad things are. I am fortunate to have a lot of friends who are very positive and optimistic about life. When one of us is down, we gang up on that person and encourage them. Not everyone enjoys that kind of community – if you do then you know what I am talking about. If you don’t have a strong support network you might consider getting involved with a local synagogue, church or club. Today, even social media offers you a way to connect with other like-minded people. Go ahead and open a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn account!
3. Turn off the news. I know myself… I can get sucked into the stuff they dish out on the news fast and it affects my thoughts and emotions just as quickly. I find it better for myself if I check news online and carefully select what I want to open myself up to. There are certain reporters and commentators that I know can hook me and drag me down – I try to stay away from them. I don’t want to be ignorant or out of touch so I don’t entirely unplug from news but I’m careful. Make sense?
Bottom line… We at the Colibri Real Estate, LLC want to encourage you to move forward with your plan to become successful or to continue your success. If that plan includes beginning a real estate career we’re here to help you with that. If you are a little nervous about getting started and need a little encouragement give us a call!
Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?
About David Goldstein — David Goldstein is an Owner and Founding Partner of Colibri Real Estate, LLC. which operates online education providers Colibri Real Estate, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.
