Bad Day

(This was written on 5/12/11 but Blogger.com was down, so it's being posted now)

There are downsides to every job. I know, shocking. We prepare for them, we build up toughness and hope they pass quickly. I’ve had my fair share, but today was one of those days that made the rest look easy.

It’s just not a pretty picture in real estate these days. People are strategically defaulting on loans to get out of bad investments, others are forced out because of job loss, and others for more serious reasons. The majority of my job at the moment consists of helping people get out of these money pits that are worth less than what people owe on them. The reasons are just about as varied as the people you see wandering Orange County. I ‘short sell’ peoples houses. We negotiate with their lender to accept less than what is owed on their loan in hopes of getting them out of a tough financial situation. 95% of the time, we’re successful. The other 5%, we’re not.

Today, I had to make a call to one of those in the 5% category to tell him that his home was foreclosed on by his lender due to reasons unbeknownst to anyone involved. For some people, they’ve prepared themselves for this possibility, and yet others are in such a horrible situation that they cannot even think further ahead than putting the next foot in front of the other. Try just finalizing a divorce, losing a job, having a serious heart condition that makes it impossible to keep a job, losing your home, and not having money to find another. That’s Max. My client. He’s a worrier, and yet he trusted me to take care of this situation for him. I don’t take it lightly, that my clients trust me with their biggest investment – it is an honor. Then to fail – well, as you might imagine it is quite disheartening.

I’m glad the day is over, but a grown man crying over the phone confessing that he didn’t know what to do or where to go breaks my heart. I wish I could have done more, or tried harder, but ultimately I realize that there was nothing I did, or could have done to change the outcome. I simply wish things were different.

Mixed. Blended. Shaken. Stirred.

Happy. Sad. Excited. Hurt. Loved. Angry. Anxious. Depleted. Joyful. Sick. Helpless.

This is how I feel. Today.