More Than a Transaction: A Veteran's Home Search Journey
Real estate isn't always glamorous. Despite what HGTV would have you believe, finding the right home—especially in today's market—can be a rollercoaster of emotions. But sometimes, amid the disappointments and setbacks, you get reminded why this job matters.
For the last three months, I've been working with Matt, a wounded warrior veteran looking for a place to call his own in our corner of Florida. His search hasn't been easy.
We've written multiple offers. One seller sent back a three-page letter explaining their military service but offering zero concessions on price or repairs. Another accepted a contingent offer, then ghosted us. A third rejected us outright, only to come crawling back weeks later when their "perfect buyer" fell through.
Through it all, Matt has shown the kind of patience that only comes from having faced much bigger challenges. He doesn't complain. But I can see the disappointment in his eyes each time we get bad news.
Last week, we revisited a property I'd shown him before. It's in a mature neighborhood with tree-lined streets and sidewalks—the kind of place where people actually know their neighbors. The surrounding homes are impeccably maintained. This one needed work—particularly the carpeting, which was stained and well past its prime—but the bones were good.
The listing clearly stated "AS-IS," but here's something I've learned over 15 years in this business: everything is negotiable. So we wrote an offer asking for repairs and new flooring, knowing full well the seller could say no.
"Did you see it's being sold as-is?" the listing agent asked me, clearly annoyed.
"I did," I told him. "But this is what we're offering. Your seller can always counter."
And counter they did. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
That's when I decided to have a real conversation with the listing agent. I told him Matt's story—not to play the sympathy card, but because context matters. I wanted him to understand this wasn't just another transaction for us.
Something shifted in that conversation. The listing agent became an advocate, not an adversary. We got creative: I secured a flooring estimate, and we structured a deal where the earnest money would equal the flooring cost and become non-refundable after installation.
Win-win. The seller gets security. Matt gets new floors.
Next week brings inspections, which in Florida almost always reveal some wood rot (thanks, humidity). The home's age means we'll need to check the drain lines too. But for the first time in months, I feel like we're getting somewhere.
I've been thinking a lot about why this particular deal feels so significant. It's not the biggest sale I'll make this year. It won't win any awards.
But watching Matt walk through that house, seeing him pause on the back patio and actually smile while envisioning his future there—that's the real payoff in this business.
Sometimes, being a real estate agent isn't about closing deals. It's about opening doors to new beginnings for people who deserve them.
Stay tuned. This story isn't over yet.
