Well it would be un-American to not have this month’s column be about anything else than THANKSGIVING! I find it interesting to search my own heart this time of year. I often find ordinary things to be especially thankful for, blessings that get overlooked throughout the other 11 months of the year. I can be overheard […]
It was less than two years ago and I remember the day clearly. My husband, Nate came in the door and said, “Honey, we need to talk.” He can be a man of few words but his tone was serious so there was no question – we “needed” to talk. As it turns out, the upcoming […]
It’s probably not a big surprise to anyone reading this column, to hear the air quality in Southern Oregon has been having a huge impact on our community. There have been outdoor adventures continually postponed or even canceled, family visits rescheduled and sports activities moved indoors. But even among the ash, it is possible to […]
If I had to guess, our team shows over 300 homes a year. As we walk through properties, whether we are previewing them for clients or showing them to the potential new owners, there are definitely a few things sellers can do to set their property apart from their competition. We are always surprised when […]
Recently, Dyan and I, our husbands, along with two close friends were able to carve out a couple days from our hectic schedules and plan a three day rafting trip down the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River. It’s been a tradition for the last couple of years and it just so happened […]
There is no doubt about it….the local market has been picking up steam the last several months, and there is no sign of it slowing down as we enter into the summer months. We are seeing some properties that have been on the market for months or even years waiting patiently for their next owner […]
There is no question the market is hopping and more and more For Sale signs are popping up. We are interviewing for listings every week and glad to report it looks like more inventory is in our future. Compared to this time last year, the inventory across our county is greater. Fortunately, Buyer appetite is […]
If someone asked you what makes Ashland so special, what would you say? Because the houses are relatively expensive, the lots are not as big, and the parking stinks. Of course not. You’d likely share that given its small population; it’s packed with culture, diversity, life and love. We often find ourselves showing property to […]
As we are well on our way into the New Year, it is natural to self reflect on the past while also beginning to plan for the future. We each have financial goals, family dreams, business dreams and the list goes on. But the real question is, “Are we actively planning our time?” Time can […]
With the major holiday season behind us and things settling down, we find ourselves scheduling more and more listing appointments, as Sellers get prepared to list their homes. It’s a good reminder to everyone the importance of aligning yourself with the right Broker. In our opinion, it can literally make or break your deal and […]
In our never-ending pursuit to be the best versions of ourselves, we find ourselves focused more and more on the importance of authenticity. In a day and age where people can take on the persona of just about anybody they want, we find it even more valuable when we find ourselves surrounded by genuine people. […]
With the steady incline in home prices, we are starting to experience the ramifications of home sellers overpricing their homes and then waiting too long to make the proper adjustments. When our market started to rebound and properties in the Rogue Valley were selling at top dollar, it didn’t take long for homeowners to become […]
To my mama – I often rise in the morning and think, “What appointment is today? What result are we waiting for?” A few short moments later I recall that for now that journey is OVER! Today marks two weeks since your last radiation treatment and already it feels like a lifetime ago. Our minds […]
For those of us familiar with the ins and outs of a real estate practice, we are aware there are a few different types of agency relationships that can exist within a real estate contract. There are Buyer’s Agents, Seller’s Agents and Disclosed Limited Agents. The first two are pretty obvious who they represent, but […]
Sometimes when we are so determined and focused on an aspect of our lives we operate more like a horse with blinders on and less like humans. There can be the most magnificent sunset but when we sit inside in our living room that beauty isn’t as clear or breathtaking. It is so important to […]
We’ve all been asked the question, “So what do you do for a living?” and we have all jumped right into what we do to make a living. After all, it’s a pretty harmless question and most definitely a conversation starter. “Oh, I sell real estate, I’m an accountant, I stay home with my children, […]
We all know there are many different seasons to life. There are the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Each brings it’s own challenges and often time with the more blessings you have, the larger your stress load can become. When a mother first brings her baby home from the hospital they are […]
Spring is probably my favorite season. Just as bulbs bloom this time of year is seems like hope does too. There is hope for new dreams to blossom and the tides to turn into ones favor. It is so enjoyable watching people venture outside and soak up the sun on the days when the rain […]
I can’t think of a time where showing a little grace was ever a bad idea. The last few weeks have been downright brutal in the real world, at least from our perspective. Escrows are falling for reasons that simply don’t make sense. Appraisals are coming in at 15-25% under the contract price and the […]
We had the absolute honor of celebrating a friend’s 40th birthday in Las Vegas this past weekend with our husbands. Six couples ventured out of the gray skies of the Rogue Valley and into the sunny skies of Nevada. One of my favorite things to do in Vegas is to people watch and start conversations […]
In late December, Jackson County found itself with a vacancy for the position of Sheriff. Corey Falls, the Sheriff elected from 2014 had accepted a new position in the Portland area and our county faced an incredible uncertainty. Who would fulfill the remainder of his term, how would that appointment process go, and was someone […]
With 2016 behind us, it only seems appropriate to reflect on the last year. The real estate market experienced some incredible activity and as of mid-December the Medford and Ashland John L Scott offices have closed more than $720 million for 2016. That equates to over 2,350 transactions by our two offices alone and there […]
Some would say, “All We Need is Love” and while I am not convinced it’s ALL we need… it’s is definitely needed, particularly in times like now. The world as we once knew it has changed and don’t think for a minute it happened on a Tuesday night a few weeks back. As we celebrate […]
I have found myself searching through the crowds lately to find hope. Hope that humanity isn’t all in just for themselves and for their own gain. I search for the light among the darkness. For people who give more than they take. I am often drawn to individuals who not only see the glass as […]
This past week my best friends celebrated their 14 year wedding anniversary. DeAnna’s husband had the most beautiful and obnoxious flower arrangement delivered to our Ashland office. There were 14 gorgeous dark pink roses and another 14 of the most stunning double lilies. The darn thing was so big and heavy that the gal delivering the […]
We don’t think it is any secret that along with interest rates, the inventory levels are still quite low. This undoubtedly creates an increase in “value” because the demand currently exceeds the supply. However, as real estate professionals who have been in this business a combined 25 years we caution home sellers against unrealistic expectations. […]
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke Instead of pouring time into a space reserved for our thoughts on the current real estate trends, we are dedicating this space to those who paid the ultimate price. Five men lost their lives to a […]
Do you ever wonder if the world notices when you’re kind? Do you wonder if your little baby steps of doing your part are really making that much of a difference in our world? Among all the chaos and tragedy, we want to reassure you that we see you. The self-satisfaction that comes from doing […]
If I had to guess, I overhear someone mention how lucky someone else is on a weekly basis. Or I will hear of a friend’s planned vacation, and another person chiming in “Wow, it must be nice.” These two simple phrases make me cringe. I understand that sometimes they are said in love and without […]
We have been patiently waiting for the spring inventory to hit, and typically we see a large influx of new listings just after Spring Break. As we have touched upon in the past, our local sellers believe that the spring is the best time to sell… Once the flowers start to bloom, the inventory “blossoms” […]
I recently celebrated my 40th birthday on a fly fishing trip to South America. Knowing how difficult it can be to ever truly disconnect from the hustle and bustle of raising a family and running a business, my husband spoiled me with a gal pal trip to Argentina. My buddy Rachel and I took a […]
Many of us know someone who knows a person who has tried to sell their home without the help of a Realtor. Heck, why wouldn’t you give it a shot… after all, Realtors are so expensive! Seems logical, right? Well… maybe not. Without the help of a Realtor, you very well may end up leaving […]
We had the honor of attending a retirement ceremony this past month. After 38 years of service, the Medford Chief of Police hung up the handcuffs and emptied his office. For those of you who have never attended a police or military retirement celebration, they are quite an ordeal. Parts are filled with laughter as […]
Another year has come and gone and what an incredible year it was. We often reflect on our many blessings, and in this new year we will be doing much of the same. In 2015, our closed sales volume more than doubled from the year before. We aren’t exactly sure how the heck that happened […]
This holiday season, it’s hard to not look back on the past six years and smile. So clearly that I can see myself walking through the back door of my home after a long shift at the police department. My husband had just put our daughter to bed and he had this look of fear […]
With another record month on the books, we have recently been approached a number of times from people wanting to know, “What’s the secret to your success?” Most of the inquiries were from other agents hoping to pick up a few pointers for improving their production, but a few were from local business owners. Dyan […]
There is Still Time! We can’t count the number of times in the early fall when we have had clients say, “I know we missed the selling season….. but, we really would like to try and sell our home.” It seems there is a false illusion that spring and summer are the only times to sell […]
By DeAnna Sickler Over the years, we have all heard the saying “bigger is better,” and we are starting to think that whoever came up with that just might be on to something. There was a time when being at the top was our only goal, but as we grew as mothers, wives and women, we […]
Golden Rule By Deanna Sickler As mothers of young children and wives of police officers, it’s fair to say we have thick skin. Without it, we simply wouldn’t survive. Mainstream media and the uninformed population consistently offer their “Monday morning quarterback” commentary to every law enforcement move made across the United States. So by default, […]