WEALTH
The Market vs. Human Nature
As previously shared, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, "should I sell as-is or renovate.” Another common question I am asked is, “How’s the market?”
It’s a fair question—especially for someone preparing to sell their house. I’d argue an even more important question is: How does human nature factor into selling a home?
I could show you all the stats, charts, and recent sales data (I love that stuff). Though,the data is always backward-looking. Even "new" numbers are based on past sales. So while market data gives us context, human behavior often drives the outcome.
Case in point: I recently helped someone sell the home they grew up in—an inheritance from their late parent. As you can imagine, emotions were high.
We believed the home would sell in the low $900,000s. The question became: How do we price it to get there? A question for you to contemplate. Would you rather have one buyer to negotiate with—or ten? While it may seem like a leading question, it is always an option for a seller.
Let’s bring in human nature. If you're a buyer, would you offer more for a home knowing you're competing with others? Of course. So why wouldn't a seller price their home in a way that creates that competitive energy?
Homes don’t have a single market value—they sell within a range of value. A smart pricing strategy helps push the final sale toward the top of that range.
In this case, the seller chose to list at $799,000. The result? Over 30 offers, 10 counteroffers sent to the best buyers, and a final sale of $990,000.
Would that outcome have been achieved if the seller chose a listing price at $999,000 from the start?
The market is shifting—inventory is rising, interest rates remain stable—and human nature hasn’t changed. When it comes to selling a home, understanding people often beats predicting the market.
WISDOM
Another powerful quote from Marcus Aurelius: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
It reminds me of Ryan Holiday’s book title, The Obstacle Is the Way. It’s a mindset shift—an expectation that the path forward won’t be straight or smooth. Just like a stock chart, progress comes with ups and downs. Another part of the mindset shift is to look at obstacles as opportunities. How could that reframing help you with the next obstacle you encounter?
This quote is also a reminder: challenges aren’t detours—they are the path. What feels like a block today may be the very thing that moves us forward tomorrow. Especially when we figure our way around or through the obstacle.
Re-reading this gives me a deeper appreciation for Marcus’ wisdom. What impedes us now may ultimately become the fuel for our momentum.
WELLNESS
This podcast from Dr. Mark Hyman is with his mentor, Dr. Jeff Bland. Dr. Bland has been called the father of Functional Medicine. His groundbreaking work helped shift the understanding of chronic disease and inspired a generation of doctors to look beyond symptoms and toward root causes.
In this episode, Drs. Hyman and Bland talk about the science of health, aging, and disease prevention. Why your biology is not predetermined by your genes. They discuss inflammation, biomarkers, and aging well. How what you eat can shape everything from inflammation to longevity
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
THANK YOU!
Thank you for reading! Always interested in discussing anything shared, and appreciate your feedback and thoughts.