When I started my real estate career back in the late 20th century - that would be 1999 - I thought this would be an easy job. I had no idea of the tremendous complexity involved with helping people realize their dreams of home ownership or with assisting them in the sale of their homes, as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

Since that time a combination of experience and continuing education has taught me that being a true real estate professional means three things:

Consulting - I need to be able to sit down with you and really listen to your needs and aspirations. Why do you want what you want? And how do we get there. It involves talking about pricing strategies, neighborhoods, architecture...and much, much more.

Negotiating - Once you''ve reached your decision I need to help you get what you want at terms that are acceptable to you. That means knowing when to "hold '' 'em and when to "fold" 'em.

Overseeing the details - Believe it or not, there are hundreds of details involved in the process from knowing the 40-plus pages of the sales contract and addenda to financing, appraisals, inspections, title work, and more.