Many of you know that almost two years ago, I fell skiing and managed to tear my ACL, MCL, crack my femur, and crush the L1 vertebrae in my spine. If you know that, then you also know that I have no god-given talent for athletics. I tried my hand at basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming; you name it. Having an older brother and two parents who are athletically more gifted than myself made it all the more annoying!

But, alas, my tiny frame and lack of upper-body strength always got the best of me. While my peers grew, I remained quite small until, well, forever... but there was always one sport where I excelled and felt the most exuberance: skiing. It's a paradox because I hate being cold, but something about that mountain air makes you feel alive.

My parents stuck me on skis as soon as I could walk and I have never looked back. Sure, there were the ski school years where snot and tears were running parallel down my face; my fingers and toes were seemingly missing and I hated my parents for what they were doing to me. Thankfully they persisted, presumably because they too were addicted to the stuff.

When I crashed and my recovery looked dismal, I was crushed. I had a new brand new pair of Faction skis that got one very traumatic run in before I might retire them forever. But I was determined to get back to the one sport I could call mine. I mean, if I can’t ski, I am moving to Hawaii!

This is a crazy time in the housing market, and I often think about the hustle of it all. It takes a lot of willpower for buyers and sellers to stay informed and educated when things change on a dime. It also takes a very strong mindset to weather the storms, but like skiing (or any favorite hobby), it is well worth the effort. If it feels like things will not get better, that feeling is only temporary! I know this because last year seemed like the longest of my life. But I just skied 2 days straight in 4 inches of powder without a single hiccup, so I know it is possible.

My advice to buyers, sellers, and anyone who just follows the news is to stay informed by talking to experts in lending, real estate, and financial planning, rather than what sensationalized headlines say.

Cheers, Cait

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