You’re Either Building a Life or Avoiding One
Sometimes your spouse does not make it to the finish line with you, Did you even start the race?
You know what we’ve learned? Not everyone is actually ready for this. People think real estate is about unlocking doors. It’s not. It’s about intention. Direction. Alignment. A willingness to let someone guide you into the life you say you want.
On our team, we’ve gotten very good at recognizing the difference between someone who’s genuinely ready… and someone who’s going to rope-a-dope a Realtor for years with no real intention of ever choosing anything. We don’t judge it. We just don’t participate in it.
Because working with the Jabbour Luxury Group isn’t something everyone gets to do. We look for mutual intention and mutual respect. And when that fit is right, the results are undeniable.
This year alone, our team showed homes to 58 people and closed 31 transactions. Not because we made more phone calls. Not because we “followed up harder.” But because we selected the right people—and they selected us back.
When the partnership is right, everything gets easier. On average, a buyer working with us finds the home they love after seeing 2.78 homes. Why? Because we do the real work up front. We listen for the life they’re actually trying to build—not the one they think they’re supposed to perform.
This business is far more intimate, far more committed, and far more human than most people allow themselves to admit.
If you want a team that will help you discover what actually fits—call us. If you want to wander endlessly, call anyone.
When “Looking” Becomes a Lifestyle: The What-If Story Realtors Don’t Want to Admit
What if—for ten years—you thought you had a real buyer on the hook? They toured, they texted, they asked for new listings, they flew in, they walked properties, they said all the right polite things. And what if you, the ever-hopeful Realtor, kept believing the next showing was the one… while missing the truth sitting right in front of you?
What if the buyer wasn’t actually buying anything at all—not a home, not a lifestyle, not even their own story? What if they were just saying no to life, quietly, consistently, and with Olympic-level finesse?
And what if the Realtor—poor soul—kept treating excuses as clues, instead of what they really were: soft landings for a buyer who simply didn’t want to say the words out loud?
Here’s how that slow-motion play by play plays out:
What if every “We’re still researching” really meant “We’re never choosing”? And the Realtor smiled, nodded, and booked another showing. Is this the kind of experience you want? As a person seeking a life don’t you want something else?
What if every “We’re waiting for the right moment” was code for “We’re terrified to commit to anything that seems like joy”? And the Realtor kept updating their search alerts. But shouldn’t you actually trust someone and talk to them truthfully? Isn’t that a better idea?
What if every “Maybe prices will come down” was just a shield to protect the ego from admitting the lifestyle was out of reach—or out of alignment? And the Realtor kept pulling comps like it mattered. Is it time to look in other places? Do you have a team that is international? Are you open to the wider world? 30A is great but it is not all there is.
What if the fifteenth unnecessary home tour was just a buyer distracting themselves from the truth—this was never happening? And the Realtor kept blocking off weekends, thinking professionalism would cure hesitation. Are you ok if someone justs asks you “Is this really something we need to keep doing?” Maybe you need to wait.
What if the mythical unicorn home—the imaginary perfect one—wasn’t a goal but a shield? A way to avoid the discomfort of choosing an imperfect real life? And the Realtor kept saying, “We’ll find it.” HINT: There is no perfect house. That is why Gayle and I are now building our 9th in total and 4th together.
What if all the spreadsheets, recalculations, and tortured rate theories were just clever ways to hide fear behind math? And the Realtor kept producing net sheets as though clarity were the missing ingredient. Candidly if this is about money, then well….we have not found the right reason yet. As a former private equity economist/portfolio manager, I can tell you with factual certainty, real estate is not the best investment you can make even with all the tax tricks…..never has been…..you want the data? Feel free to call me. Life……
What if every “interesting home” was just a polite decoy because “no” felt too final, too honest, too vulnerable? And the Realtor pretended that was momentum. The best showing is when we walk in and we are in that honest relationship and in 1 minute one of you says, “this is no good let’s go”. For me that is the best showing…it tells me everything I need to know that you do not want.
What if the buyer wanted the memories, the beach, the family moments—but not enough to actually choose them? And the Realtor mistook wistfulness for readiness. Vacationing here may be your long term solution. As a use of capital it is the best choice…….but how many realtors will tell you that? But if you want to fly to your home in Costa Rica on demand anytime and frequently or be in your 30A retreat any Friday afternoon until Monday Morning then you need to own it…and own your life.
What if ten years of looking was really ten years of avoiding the life they said they wanted? And the Realtor kept believing the next season—next quarter—next rate drop would unlock everything. Don’t get me started on this….but I am about to publish here how a Caregiver’s Journey set me on an understanding of real estate….that it is about Life and not the think the house seems to be. You must live your life and I might say NOW because that 5 year plan? One of ya may not be here. This is about Being Here NOW.
And finally…
What if both the buyer and the Realtor wasted a decade because neither one wanted to confront the truth?
The buyer wasn’t buying. The Realtor wasn’t listening. Life wasn’t waiting.
Sometimes the kindest thing a Realtor can do is say the thing the buyer cannot:
“If this mattered to you, we would be having dinner now.”
Because a “No” is not the enemy. A wasted decade is.