San Antonio's Rockstar Turned Realtor®: Sometimes You Just Have To Blog About It

Matt, That was a brave thing to do. My heart goes out to you. Good luck and I haope that 2010 treats you better.

You are a brave man Matt.  I admire your loyalty to Real Estate as well as your dedication to your focus on writing.  That takes a ton of courage, very admirable.  Many can relate to your story & perhaps feel better about their situation after reading your words.  I know good things are in store for you & V in 2010.  K

Mark - 2010 will treat me better, only because I am better than I was last year!  Every year I learn a bit more and get better at what I do.  I don't view the foreclosure as a setback as much as I view it as a chance.  It's not the chance you love to be handed, but it's a chance to make changes none the less.

Kristin - Thanks.  You know hearing that from you is a big deal for me.  You can't get rid of me that easy.  Haha.  The one good thing, we'll be close to Houlihans so we can catch you at happy hour once in awhile!

Matt, first off, I'm truly saddened to hear this kind of news; from anyone, let alone someone who I know and respect.

You're a strong man to have shared this with us and to take the positive out of a bad experience.

Your wife must be a great woman too standing by you in what must have been a long and difficult road.

It's a tribute to your strength as a couple.

May you rebound quickly from this and may you grow stronger as a person, husband and Realtor.

My thoughts are with you my friend.

Matt,

I just read your post. I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you. As you said, you & your wife are resilient & will survive. Your positive attitued will carry you through. My heart goes out to you both. Best of luck to you in the future!

You handled it well, Matt. I believe your musical side allowed a bit of spirited harmony to flow through your life and got you through it in a "composed" manner. Hope you have a fine week ahead and an even better year. I know that it will be.

Matthew - I had no idea (of course) that any of this was going on... you've done very well, in keeping it to yourself (I likely would have done the same).

Times are tough.. and new agents MUST be prepared to have a couple of lean years.  My heart goes out to you and your long-suffering wife (her suffering has nothing to do with your financial position), and I give you huge kudos for being willing to share this very important story.

Hang in there... Alan's axiom is "this too, shall pass"... and you'll soon find yourself on the other side, with a huge weight lifted from your shoulders.  New decks can be built, friends can be phoned, fortunes recovered.

Please let me know how I can help.

Matt - I left you a comment there, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to leave one here as well.  Three of my closest friends lost their homes over the past year or two, and without other resources (family), we might have been in the same boat.  I applaud you for sharing this publicly.  

Matt, To you and all real estate agents that have gone through this, hats off! Your story will undoubtedly reach many people in the same situation and they will know that they will get from you both knowledge and empathy, an unbeatable combination.

Craig - Thanks my friend.  It's not easy, but you know what the Beatles had to say about that.

Jeana - Thanks.  I feel like I've been saying "thanks" a lot today.  And I am thankful, despite the situation.  Worse things can happen in life.  This may be tough, but it in no way is the end of the line for anyone.

David - Although this served as a little setback for my plans for the new year (it takes up a lot of time), I have no doubt about 2010.  I'm still as excited about it as I was coming into it.  This will be a great year.

Alan - I really hope that some new agents can take a lesson from this, because it's the hardest thing they face.  In school while I was taking my classes, everyone always asked teachers and visiting brokers how long things would take and what they could expect.  Although they all tried to give answers all of them eventually said "it depends."  You can work 24 hours a day in this business and do everything "right" and still not get a return.  You can do everything "wrong" and be successful right off the bat.  There are elements of it you can not control.  Not being prepared for them is under your control though.  Your reminder that "new decks can be built" is an important one as well.  Material things are not what matters most in this world.

Jason - Thanks for the double comment.  We all know someone who's dealt with it - whether friends, clients, family, or fellow agents (I'd love to see some actual statistical data on this from the past few years - I'm willing to bet it would be shocking to many).  I'm glad to see you were able to make it with the help of family.  I've actually started to become a bit excited at the prospect of something new (as a guy who traveled most of the time, I do feel a little stagnant in one place at times).

Barb - Most definitely agree with "hats off" to anyone who's faced foreclosure, been through it, or is currently knee deep in it.  Just trying to fill out all the paperwork for a loss mitigation package could have many people pulling their hair out and wanting to give up.  I do hope my post serves as a "you're not alone" to everyone (consumer or agent) and helps them cope with the thoughts and feelings that come up during all of it.  It's also great to see the comments of agents who definitely understand what I meant about "compassion" in the post.  Foreclosure sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

Matt, you and your wife have each other, your health, and a whole lot of wonderful things to come!  Going through something like this is the pits and the hardest thing because it's not like a disease that you can talk about and get support with - it's a time that takes real guts and determination.  But one thing is for SURE - it will make you an even more awesome Realtor!  Remember it's only real estate!  You still are and always will be our San Antonio Real Estate Rockstar!!!

Pamela

All of which should give you a deeper understanding of what so many home owners have been through or will go through. 

Hang in there.  RockStars are tough.

Matt,

Although you're a rare brave one to go public, you are not alone by any means.  Sometimes folks forget that there are true hardships and not just irresponsible owners.  I'm sending you and the Mrs. my very best wishes for brighter days ahead.

Tough times never last but tough people do>  Hang in there and time will make it better

shelton

Matt,

I know awesome things will come your way this year!

Matt,

It is a difficult thing to live thru but even harder to write about and bare your soul to the world.  I believe that good things will come your way this year.

Matt - I had no idea you were going through this and I am awed at your resilience and courage!  You are such an awesome person and I know you are going to have an amazing 2010.  I am proud to call you a friend and look forward to the Houlihan's happy hours!  Keep your head up and thank you for sharing your story. 

I understand... been there.  Well, not completely there.  I had to walk away from my home after a divorce and let me ex-wife and her new husband take it over.  I hated that.  Success was my revenge.  Of course, I have seen some good and some bad since then. 

I know you can hang in, even when you don't know it.  If it wasn't for people that had that belief in me, I wouldn't have made it.

Matt, I have been seeing this happen all around me and it hasn't been easy for me and my family either. I lost some great neighbors as the bank bought their house back at action just recently and now it is for sale for $40,000 less than what they paid. I don't have to tell you the good news, you already know. You two have each other and a great attitude, the sun will come up tomorrow with a brand new day! Have a great 2010!!!

Hi, Matt:

You are a courageous guy to post that. And you are a compassionate one in saying that the moral of the story is to be mindful of others in the same situation, instead of focusing on your own predicament. Best of luck in finding a new home that you and your wife will be happy in while you turn things around.

Cheers,

Robin

Hey everyone, sorry I haven't been around to comment back.  Thank you everyone for the comments, emails, and phone calls.  They definitely made it easier to get through.  I'm happy to announce we're in our new place and (slowly) getting things unpacked and figuring out where to put it all.

Robin - We moved over to Talavera on Blanco and 1604.  Nice place so far.  We decided we'd go the apartment route and so far, so good.  Still need to meet some neighbors, but have been more of a troll working inside all day long to try and catch up and finish up the move.

There is something to be said for living in an apartment. It'll sure cut down on your yardwork! Hopefully, the complex has a nice pool, too.

Matt, your story was touching and familiar - kudos to you for writing it.  Many of my friends have lost homes to foreclosure or short sale.  I am renting right now, and feel lucky that we didn't buy when we moved here 5 years ago.

You are a survivor and will teach many others in the years to come.

Best to you in 2010 - it is going to be a great year.

Matt - I remember you alluding to it in one of your posts earlier when I had first started blogging last year, when I was knee deep in it, too, so I know something about what you wrote about.

Glad that you were able to put a positive face on it.

Now, let's go out there and make 2010 your rock star year in real estate...