January 2009
Community Paper
copyright ©2009 by Community Paper College Park, Inc. All rights reserved.

'Twas the Night Before Closing
by Mike Derenthal, Derenthal Realty Group and College Park resident

‘Twas the night before Closing, we were selling our house
I was nervous as heck… Did I just see a mouse?!
The inspections were done, the house had appraised,
Our time on market had been 96 days.

The price we got on our house had been less
Than what we were sure it was worth I’ll confess.
But to worry o’er that made no sense. It did not!
Given the great price on the one we just bought.

This market had been very stressful for sure,
But nothing correct pricing - and qualified buyers - couldn’t cure.
So while ma donned her nightie, and I took off my shoes
We were beginning to sigh, when I turned on the news.

When out of the media there arose such a claim,
‘Bout how real estate values were circling the drain!
And how no one should ever again buy a home,
As homeowners we… we just felt so alone!

So away to my laptop I flew like a flash,
Googled my realtor and called him to ask,
WHAT TO DO!?!? WHAT TO DO?!?! CNN says I’m screwed.
Relax said my realtor. They haven’t a clue.

You see, real estate’s local, as it always has been
And national stats mean so little my friend.
For that matter state, even city-wide data
In your own local ‘hood, they just really don’t matter.

Now turn off the tube, and go get some rest.
And enjoy this final night in your nest.
Before the new folks make your place their own
And start making their own new mem’ries of home.

And don’t let the doom-mongers make you morose.
Economies cycle. They have highs. They have lows.
And while stock markets soar, then the next day they crash
Real estate remains a safe place to stash cash.

So just play by the rules: Pay the right price.
Location is everything - find one that’s nice.
Have some cash to put down, to bring to the table.
Long term and leveraged, this investment’s quite stable.

And before I hang up, and if you’ll allow,
I’d like to perhaps remind you that how-
Ever you choose to think of your home,
It’s not just another investment you own.

It’s laughter and joy. Heartaches and failures.
Memories of family, friends and good neighbors.
New ones arrived, old ones passed away,
Some bad, most good, but as memories… they stay.

And what’s a good memory worth nowadays?
Can you factor that into net worth, anyways?

Feel free to drop me an email at mike@derenthalrealty.com.

by: Mike Derenthal, Derenthal Realty, www.DerenthalRealty.com
1520 Edgewater Drive, Suite E, Orlando, FL 32804
407-965-1919

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