I know, I know, it has been a while since you've heard from me. That is on me.

I was just talking to a friend about my monthly newsletters recently. I had to look back, it was 2018 the last time I sent one out! I think there were 1 or 2 months where I missed sending a newsletter between 2016 and 2018. 

Back then, I got up each morning at 4:30, made my way to Starbucks and spent a couple hours writing each morning. There was plenty of time to write the 8 pages needed for the newsletter each month. 

But then life happened. I got busy. I missed one month. Then two. And like all good habits, we find any excuse to give up.

That conversation reminded me of how much I enjoyed writing that newsletter. It was my way of keeping in touch with the 150-200 important people in my life each month. 

So that explains why you are seeing this email today. I put together a list of my closest contacts. My family, friends and the amazing clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 10 years. 

Each month, I hope to give you a glimpse into things happening in our area. I promise it won’t be a bunch of useless real estate statistics or a monthly rant about how “March is the best time to buy” only a month later to proclaim that “Just kidding, April is actually the best time to buy.”

For the record, the best time to buy is completely dependent on your situation. 

A lot has changed in the last 6 years, personally, professionally and in our community. My hope is that getting back to a monthly communication will help get a better grasp on the current pulse of our world. I don’t want this to be a one way street either. I would encourage you to respond. If something I share resonates with you, let me know. If you don’t agree with something I say, that is okay too, let me know!

Just like in the past, each month I will share wins, struggles, lessons, and opportunities. It won’t be entirely real estate focused, though. I know most of you don’t care what is happening in the real estate market unless you are actively looking to buy or sell. I’ll throw a quick market update at the end of each email for anyone who is curious.

The Barry Sanders of Real Estate

Remember back in 1999 when Barry Sanders suddenly retired in his prime? He only played 10 seasons and most thought he still had plenty of “good years” left (you could argue that no one would classify playing for the Detroit Lions “good”).

He lost out on millions of dollars by retiring, but that wasn’t important to him. He made smart investments with his money and prioritized his long term health over money, allowing him to call it quits earlier than most would.

On the flip side of that, I saw recently that Adrian Peterson has made it clear that he has not officially retired and left the door open to playing again. There were also reports that he was selling many of his trophies to make some money. 

Two players playing the same position with very different paths.

It is a story I see play out all the time in real estate. 

The income potential in real estate is limitless, but what a lot of agents lack is that long-term planning piece. It is the reason we see real estate agents working well into their 70s and 80s. 

But at the end of 2023, my dad dropped the Barry Sanders bomb on me. 

He was retiring. 

He spent the last 5 years as an agent on my team. All indications were, there was still plenty of tread left on the tires. 

Most real estate agents stick it out until either health issues or their broker forces them out.

If you know my dad though, you know he has pinched every penny he has ever had (and I don’t say that in a negative way, it is a badge he wears proudly).

Before I turn the page, though, I have to take a moment to reflect on the 10 years we had as business associates.

When I first got my real estate license back in 2013, my dad was working as a lender. For the first 5 years or so, he and I worked together on a few transactions. He helped the buyers get their loan and I helped them find the house. 

My dad liked to call our “team” E squared.

As my business started to grow in late 2018, I needed to add some people to my team. I had the crazy idea of trying to convince my dad to come work for me. What was even crazier is that he went along with it!

He got his license and by mid-2019 he was up and running. It was definitely a different dynamic having my dad as an agent on my team, but as I told him (and my other agents), there was no preferential treatment. If anything, I was harder on him than I was on the other guys.

It was important to me that business didn’t constantly spill into family time, so each week, we had a 1-on-1 call that was just business related. 

Our business partnership became even more important in 2020 when Soren’s health diagnosis forced our family to relocate to Florida for his birth. 

Real estate is a belly-to-belly business. It is almost impossible to maintain a real estate business from 1,500 miles away.

Unless of course you have your dad on your team to help carry the load.

And carry the load he did. My focus was obviously elsewhere, but my dad stepped in and handled my business while I was gone. Together, our partnership ensured my clients had the best possible representation while helping me maintain some consistent income.

The typical “family business” works in reverse with the kids taking over for the parents, but it was an absolute pleasure to work alongside my dad these past 5 years. He was extremely coachable and helped to fill in the gaps where my time and availability were lacking.

He didn’t break any sales records, but he never set out to do that. He had a great attention to detail and made sure to take care of each client he served. He was definitely an asset to our team and our clients. 

In addition to being a great business partner for the last 5 years, my dad also taught me an important lesson. 

Life isn’t just about making money. You have to take a break and enjoy life sometimes too. Every time he took a vacation (and he took A LOT of them!) I would joke that his boss has a pretty good vacation policy.

But he earned his vacations. With even more time open on his calendar, I’m sure he will be traveling even more. Heck, he just spent the entire month of February in Mexico!  

Congratulations on your retirement, Pops, you earned it!

$250,000 Donated!!!

I still meet people who haven’t heard of Elevate 920. After 7 years and 27 events, I thought the word would be out by now, but philanthropy is a tricky thing.

How do you talk about it and promote it without making it sound like your donation is motivated by anything but supporting the community?

Most people who know me and know my story understand the reason why I do what I do. Normally I would give in silence, not expecting any sort of recognition. But with this group, our impact is directly related to the size of our membership. 

More members means more impact.

Staying quiet about our efforts actually has a negative effect on the amount of support we provide to these charities. 

So here we are, talking about it again. 

Here is a quick rundown of what we have done:

• 27 Events

• 81 Charity Presentations

• 26 Charities Supported (1 two-time winner!)

• $254,900 donated

Feeling inspired? If you want to learn more about our group or want to check out our next event, visit our website: https://elevate920.com.

Join us at our next event!

We have some amazing charities doing some great things in our community. Learn a little bit about our last winner:

Ever heard of the Just Jess Foundation? These folks are all about sprinkling a bit of magic into the lives of families facing the kind of news you never want to hear: a critical cancer diagnosis.

So, who's Jess? Jess was this incredible person who, despite her own cancer battle, believed in finding joy and sticking close with family through thick and thin. Inspired by Jess and her journey, her family started this foundation as a big, glowing beacon of hope. It's all about grabbing onto those moments of joy and making memories that stick.

Back in 2019, when Jess and her family were in the thick of it, they stumbled upon a silver lining. They hit the road for some family vacations—from the magic of Disney World to chilling by serene Wisconsin lakes and adventuring in Durango, CO. These weren't just trips; they were lifelines, a chance to press pause on the cancer talk and just be a family soaking up the good times.

Steve Haag, a key player in this foundation, put it like this: “Cancer was always in the room, but on these trips, we showed it the door.” It was all about capturing those smiles, the laughs, and the kind of fun that fills photo albums with the good stuff.

That's the heart behind the Just Jess Foundation. They're all in on sending families on these unforgettable getaways, creating those cancer-free zones where the only agenda is fun, laughter, and making every moment count.

Here’s the scoop: if you're in Wisconsin, facing down cancer, and could use a break to just breathe and be with your loved ones, the Just Jess Foundation wants to hear from you. They're keeping it local, focusing on families within a 75-mile hug of the Fox Valley area.

Thinking of applying or know someone who should? It’s pretty straightforward, and there’s a team of folks at the foundation who pour over every story to make sure these trips go to families who could really use that time away from the C-word.

It's more than just vacations. It's about living Jess's legacy—daring to dream, explore, and soak in life's joys, even when the going gets tough. The Just Jess Foundation is a testament to the strength of families, the healing power of love, and the unforgettable memories that come from just being together.

So, here's to chasing adventures, laughter, and those precious, worry-free moments with the ones we love most. Hats off to the Just Jess Foundation for lighting the way!

To keep up with all the amazing work this organization is doing, follow their facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/justjessfoundation

Whether you need something sweet, a coffee pick-me-up, or something to grab on the go for lunch, Whisk & Arrow has you covered. Just a warning, you will inevitably leave with WAY more than you went to get, but it will be well worth it.

A few of my favorites: the classic chocolate chip cookie, "not my cookie", just about any flavor of macaron, the ham and cheese croissant, brownies, blondies, the rotating flavor of scones, any cheesecake Nea makes and whatever slice of cake they have out for the day. Oh, and stop over at the coffee bar for whatever monthly coffee concoction Alex has brewed up for the month. Those are always delicious.

But here’s the thing - there’s so much more to her than just being an amazing baker and businesswoman. Most don't realize just how much Nea does for our community. It's seriously impressive. She's not just about making the best macarons in town, she's all about giving back. And I mean, giving back in a big way. Every month, without fail, she’s there for charities, our local police, the fire department, and so many other organizations.

It’s easy to talk about supporting local businesses, but supporting Nea? That’s supporting a whole community through one incredible person. Let’s not take what she does for granted. It’s about time we give a huge shoutout to Nea for all the awesome stuff she does for all of us.

Stop in today for some treats!! Tell Nea I sent you 😊

For hours and daily menu, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/whiskandarrow

The Gap and The Gain

By Ben Hardy and Dan Sullivan

I am often asked for book recommendations. Each month, I'll include a book that I've read that you might find interesting. I would honestly recommend any of the books Ben Hardy has written. Each one is amazing, but this one in particular hit home for me. This book is all about changing the way we look at our successes and the journey towards them.

First off, there's "the Gap." It's that space between where we are now and where we want to be. If we're always looking at what's missing, we end up feeling pretty down on ourselves. It's like we're chasing the horizon, never quite happy with how far we've come because we're too focused on how far we still have to go.

Then, we've got "the Gain." This is the game-changer. It's all about taking a look back to see how far we've actually come from the starting line. It's a celebration of the steps we've taken, big or small, and it's about giving ourselves a pat on the back for the progress we've made. It shifts the focus from what's lacking to what's been achieved, and that's a recipe for happiness and confidence right there.

This was the kind of book that I felt like I could probably get all I needed to from the title, but it was a great read! The authors do a great job of mixing in stories and tips that can help us make that shift from the Gap to the Gain. Whether it's personal growth or professional achievements, this book tells us that appreciating the journey itself can make all the difference. It's a must-read for anyone who's ever felt stuck in the pursuit of perfection, showing us that sometimes, it's all about changing our perspective.

It was a wild year for real estate in 2023. There were more peaks and valleys than we were used to over the last 5 years, but in the end, it was still a year of growth for property values.

I don't have a crystal ball, but I think 2024 is going to be a good year. It is an election year and no matter which way you lean politically, both parties will try to do all they can to prop up the economy and real estate market so they can take credit for it. Predictions are all over the board, so it depends on who you talk to, but I think interest rates will decrease slightly. Demand will stay high and I am hopeful that we will see an increase in supply. 

All of this will combine for an above average increase in property values. Below I put together the monthly numbers for January and February. As you will see, even with interest rates higher than last year, home sales have been up significantly. To me, it feels like buyers are accepting the higher interest rates and more and more are coming back to the market.

The issue will continue to be a lack of supply. If you or someone you know is thinking about selling in 2024, reach out to me. I'm happy to put together a valuation to see where you sit.

January Update:

February Update:

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