"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Are you "lucky"? Or are you "intentional"?
St. Patrick's Day is a day dedicated to luck and green beer. We love the idea of luck! Winning a raffle, finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk, landing an awesome job because you "just happened" to know someone - it's all so serendipitous, so magical. But is it REALLY just luck?
Say you win a drawing at an event. On the surface, that looks like pure luck. But take a step back and consider how you got to that point. You chose to go to the event. Maybe you weren't in the mood. Maybe "Netflix and Chill" sounded like a better way to spend the evening. Maybe the event required a donation, and instead of spending that money on, say, an overpriced steak dinner at your favorite fancy restaurant or that designer handbag you've been eyeballing, you threw it toward a good cause. You made the effort to be in the room where the drawing was happening. The win FEELS lucky, but it's actually built on a series of choices.
This same logic applies to real estate. Right now, people sitting on a mortgage rate in the 2s or 3s look like they hit the jackpot. And in some ways, yes, timing played a vital role. However, the real question is, "Was it just luck?" Orrrr was it a combination of paying attention, acting at the right time, and making INTENTIONAL financial decisions? They chose to buy, refinance, or invest when rates were low. They positioned themselves to take advantage of an opportunity. Luck? Maybe. Intention? Absolutely!
The same applies for home equity. There are homeowners sitting on a mountain of equity, looking like pure geniuses. But rewind a few years. They made the decision to buy when prices felt high (because, let's be honest, prices ALWAYS feel high at the time, especially in Colorado). They committed to a mortgage of their own, instead of renting and paying someone else's mortgage. They took the risk. Was the massive appreciation in value completely within their control? No. But was it simply luck? Also, No.
This is what I love about real estate. It's a long game, a strategic mix of action and awareness. It's about putting yourself in the right position - not simply hoping the market moves in your favor but making intentional moves so to prepare so when it does, you're ready. People always say, "Wow, you're so lucky you got in when you did!" What they don't often mention are all the choices, research, and calculated risks that led to that point.
In real estate and in life, you can't simply cross your fingers and hope for the best. You have to put yourself in situations where luck CAN happen. You have to prepare, take action, and make choices - even when they're uncomfortable.
Cheers to St. Patty's Day! Wear your green, enjoy the festivities, and toss out a fun "luck of the Irish" toast. But don't forget luck is nothing without intention! May your choices (and maybe a little bit of luck) lead you to your dreams.
