Thanksgiving week...a busy week for REALTORs

Hello dear friends. I hope turkey day was a joyous day. Frankly mine was magical. I watched the Macy's parade on TV with the kids, and at the same time the colorful leaves falling. A hot cup of coffee in my hand...turkey in the oven...friends soon to arrive. What a soothing day...oh yeah, and let's not forget a little Football..."how bout them Cowboys!" Now you see why I called it magical...when was the last time Dallas was 10-1...hum...never. Stress was just flowing out of me. Detoxing. It was one of the most relaxing days ever for me.

So as I reflect about yesterday, I gear up for today and the weekend. Mentally. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times in the year for REALTORs and home sales. This is the mad rush to get into a home for the holidays. At the same time, families are together and wonder about living close to one another...thus sparking the new home fever for many families. Heck, my wife was looking at new homes this morning...I am telling you it's in the air. Turkey, Pecan pie, and a new home.

So what are doing to prepare. Many agents will gear up for a two or three day Open house extravaganza. Many will post office hours, many like yourstruly will prepare to answer the phone non-stop until Sunday evening. My team and I are carrying the largest number of listings we have ever had. With so many listings, people call about information about each home. I will make sure they have the answer they are looking for, as well as be prepared to open some doors for the truly interested ones. Possibly giving at least two families something to cheer about this holiday season. The sellers and buyers...not to mention the Piccinini's :-)

The activities for each agent will vary, undoubtedly the FULL time REALTORs like myself and my team, will be ready to go. Just like our favorite teams and players playing on turkey day, your favorite agents will be working this holiday to make sure we make the American dream a reality for you and your family.

Enjoy Thanksgiving and God Bless Your Family.

JP

JP's First Post - Downsize, improve our quality of life

Well, hello dear friends. Blogging, yeap, why not. This will give us a chance to talk about real estate, Lexington, Lake Murray, Columbia and our families.

We are fortunate to live in a great place. I spent a few days this week with two great families. One from Syracuse, NY and one from Detroit Michigan. You know what these two families had in common (other than they were both looking at houses with yours truly)? They were searching for "La dolce vita". The good life. Not in Tuscany, not in California, but right here in Columbia South Carolina.

QUALITY OF LIFE! Such a sweet word, yet so elusive to most of us. Why? There are many places in the US where the quality of life is abismal. South Carolina offers the chance to improve standards of living for many families. Thehousing is affordable and cost of living index is one of the lowest in the US. Let's not forget the weather, the beaches, and those smiling faces. Yeap, South Carolina is a great place to live and raise a family. Those of us that live here have it made...Wrong.

Just because we live in such a great place, I know so many people, including myself, that get caught up in the rat race. Keeping up with the Jones'. It just never seems enough. We are never happy, simply content for a few months.

Just to keep us we live to work and serve. All of us to some degree could improve our quality of life. Just think if we cut back on some of the items and "needs" that we have grown so accustomed and dependent on, our lives would most definately improve, our checking accounts would be fatter, and our significant other happier! Let's get back to what's important in life. Our families. Not work, not fancy toys, not big McMansions. Do you really need a 3000 sqft home for a family of four? Hey I am a REALTOR, okay, I will sell you a 3000 sqft home don't get me wrong, but do you really need it?

It's the simple things in life, like a day at the park, kicking the soccer ball with your son, cooking ALL day for that Sunday gathering, rocking on that front porch while we watch our children play (no cell phone in sight!). Those things are important in life. If we all downsized our lifestyles, stopped for a minute to focus on the important things in life we would all live in a much better place.