By Jan Farley, 2018 PSAR President

During this holiday time of year, I would like to take a moment to share with you some reflections about the importance of our Association and our real estate profession, as well as your role as a REALTOR® or affiliate member assisting people with their housing needs.

I am so proud to be part of an industry that is making such a difference in the lives of people. Our jobs in real estate play a vital part in improving our culture and society. Our efforts are commendable for a variety of reasons.

The importance of a home can never be underestimated. It’s the place where you hang your hat, is a link to the past and through its doors one walks into the future. Home is where the heart is, but it goes much deeper than that. No matter what place you call home, the very word strikes a chord deep inside each of us.

A home can be a gathering place, shelter and sanctuary, providing escape from the busyness and intrusiveness of the world. A comfortable home can be a tremendous source of strength and reassurance. A healthy home is a vital ingredient in the pursuit of a meaningful life. In seasons of war or peace, poverty or plenty, even social, geopolitical and economic upheaval, our homes remain central to the ties of family and community. Our homes are primary when we reflect on the past and create future memories that will last a lifetime. A home can mean sanctuary, a place where we can rest, relax, enjoy time with friends, learn, grown and just be. Our homes can say a lot about who we are and what we think is important in life. As we define home, we also define ourselves in relation to it.

Let me remind you that the real estate industry is closely tied to the civil and religious liberty our nation offers to all. Like the cornucopia on a kitchen table, the diversity seen in our homes and lifestyles are reflective of previous generations who came from many countries, cultures and creeds. Whenever our ancestors joined in fellowship in a celebration of expectation, it foreshadowed the dreams that we still share today of living together in our own homes in peace with respect and love for our neighbors and communities, and with heartfelt gratitude for the blessings of life. Humans have clearly evolved to be homebuilders, homemakers and home-nesters. Our homes are at the tip of the countless blessings we all enjoy in this great land.

Each of us, starting at our front porch, can be an instrument of goodwill to those we touch as we clasp the hand of friendship with our brothers and sisters in the larger family of humankind. This is why REALTORS® participating in the American dream of homeownership is so important to our nation. Home ownership is as vital as the guiding light of freedom.

Granted, the transaction process, with affordability and financing challenges, can be one of the most grueling experiences for ourselves and our clients. Struggles in life certainly shape us, building character. And, I admire every one of our PSAR members who work long hours, facing stress, exhaustion and strained relations on behalf of their clients. I admire your creativity, intuitive guidance, imagination, inspiration and perspiration.

But, after all the papers are signed and the escrow closes, when another happy family is handed the front-door keys, there’s an exhilarating rush of satisfaction and a “job-well-done” that we feel inside. There’s nothing quite like helping a family with their real estate transaction. They may see their home as their place to feel safe and invest their hopes, dreams and wishes as a foundation for their future. So, as we close out one year and begin a New Year, thanks for your support to PSAR and for your efforts in our industry. The past is a resource, but the future is where hope lives. Happy Holidays!