At the end of this year, I would have been in the Real Estate Business in Suffolk, Virginia for forty years. My Dad, who taught us this business, always had a wonderful time at Christmas. It was a time for him to celebrate another successful year in the business helping clients achieve real estate dreams, whether it was buying, selling or finally renting a home of their own. We still have the privilege of working with friends and new friends to find that perfect home, sell a home or lease a good place for their family.
When I got in the business, there were no MLS, no computers, no cell phones, no calculators, no copy machines and no Internet. I used a “slide rule” to calculate square footage. Do you know what one of those looks like? Today I have more access to market information on a smart phone than we had on good computers just a few years ago. Cameras are obsolete and “real time” is where we live and work.
But Some things never change: good old professional advice, trust and vision. We help our clients understand the current market so they can make good decisions. As I reflect on this year and how much the market has changed for the good, I am thankful that we are headed in the right direction for sellers and home prices. It may be a slow road back to normal, but we are headed in the right direction.
I like Christmas at the office, too. The decorations the staff pulls out and puts up we have used for years. They all have stories we remember and share. A few photos of them are below. They bring warmth and smiles and memories.
Wishing you and yours the best of the Holiday Season and thanks for 40 years of old friends and new friends. Looking forward to more of the same!
Harry L. Cross, III
Broker/Owner
