WARNING - Delay Ahead!!!

My journey to becoming a licensed real estate salesperson has hit a delay....
Upon completion of my educational requirements last week, I started putting together my application to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) in order to get approval for taking the state licensing exam.  Upon checking their website, I learned that they prefer all applications, both for initial licenses and renewals, to be made via their online system.   Okay....I can handle that.  But, the link to complete the application didn't work....and didn't work. I started to get pretty frustrated....

Finally, I got out of the licensing portion of the website and checked their homepage.  (Maybe I should have done that first???)  Big News!  Their online system had failed....crashed....had MAJOR issues!  Until further notice, all applications must be submitted on paper.

Aha!  This would be why that link wouldn't work!

Apparently this has created total chaos and TREC is running about 4-6 weeks behind on processing paperwork.  What this means for me ~ it will take that long for my application and education credits to be approved.  I cannot sit for the test until this process is completed!  I have been effectively put "on hold". 

Oh, the frustration....with a little disappointment thrown in for good measure.  I'm anxious to take that test and keep the ball rolling! 

Oh, well....this just means that much more time for me to study and review for the Big Exam.  I plan to use the time wisely.  There is so much to remember, so I have a stack of 3x5 index cards and I'm going to make "flash cards"; and I'm going to review the math portion of the studies like my life depends on it; and I'm going to be able to spew out info (i.e., there are 43,560 sq ft in an acre) like crazy!!!

And, since I have at least another month to "cool my jets", I am going to enjoy the fantastic Fall weather!  I am going to continue to going to my group exercise classes at the gym, trying classes at different times of the day in order to develop flexibility for when I am working.  I am going to take time to finish up lots of little projects around the house and prepare for all the holidays that rushing towards us at warp speed. 

And I will make time to slow down and enjoy this "respite"....curl up with a good book, breathe the crisp evening air, watch the leaves change colors and fall. 

So, even the best laid plans hit a glitch now and then.  This is just a part of the journey towards my new career.  And it's going to be worth the wait when all is said and done!

Have you been stuck in a situation like this?  Do you think perhaps this is all part of a Divine Plan to teach me a bit of Patience?   I would love to hear your thoughts.

Jane

Janie Finds a New Porch!!!

What a busy three days we have had!

We traveled to Abilene on Thursday afternoon in frigid temperatures to resume our house hunt. We braved sub-freezing temps again on Friday to get out and look at several houses there we had been scouting online. B-b-b-b-r-r-r-r! Here's a little tip for any of you trying to sell a house - always leave the utilities on when showing your house! We went in to all sorts of houses, but the ones that were vacant and had no electricity (i.e., no heat) were not very appealing.

After seven houses, we were ready to go back to one we had already fallen in love with when we looked at it the Monday after Christmas. Bless our realtor's heart, she was a good sport about trekking around in the arctic temperatures (with a nasty headcold, no less) to show us all these other properties when we knew in our hearts we were going to make an offer on the one she had already found for us.

After seeing what was on the market, we were more than eager to make an offer on 897 Davis, a darling little "cottage" only four blocks from the house where I spent my childnood. We were thrilled when we heard back from the realtor at 10:00 pm that the Seller accepted our offer for two reasons: 1) we heard from our realtor that we had a solid offer on our house in Pampa Friday morning; and 2) we had already scheduled a home inspection for 10:00 o'clock the next morning. That inspection, I am happy to say, went very well. So, we are truly under contract on both houses!



This experience has been most overwhelming. In our wildest dreams, we never imagined that things would happen so quickly! In this economy, at this time of the year, in our situation, this has truly been an answer to so many prayers!

I will be posting more photos of the new house soon! There will be plenty of "before and after" pictures, trust me. Closing date is set for January 28th, so it won't be long until Eddie and I are busy making this little cottage our very own. We are of the frame of mind that this will be our last house - the home that will shelter us through to our final days together on this earth.

Thanks to all of you who have sent words of encouragement and lifted a prayer for us. We can truly see God's Hand in everything that is happening and we are trusting Him to lead us on to our new home!

Warm Hugs,

Jane

"On the Market"

After two full days of painting, scrubbing and purging, we were finally able to invite the realtor in to photograph the house for her MLS listing. As of yesterday, the standard "For Sale" sign sits at the end of our driveway and we have embarked on the tremulous adventure of selling our house.

I have mixed emotions at this point.

Relief - that the push is over to prepare the house for "showing". It was a lot of work and the results are very gratifying.

Excitement - because we have made the decision to go ahead and begin the house search in Abilene. I can't wait to get home and be close to family and old friends again.

Worry (and yet cautious optimism)- about selling the house. After doing lots of looking around and research, I am confident that we have the best house to offer for this price range here in town. And on the first day on the market, our realtor had three calls from realtors in Amarillo wanting to know when the house would be available to show. But, we all watch the news and read the papers. It's a buyer's market out there and the economy around here is sluggish.

Stress - because I hate not being in control of everything. Face it - it IS stressful working all day and keeping a house clean when you have a husband and three dogs running around. 'Tis no easy task, you know, and thank goodness Eddie is a great help in this department!

Gratitude -I have heard from so many friends and the wonderful words of encouragement and support have given me a sense of peace and security!

While I am anxious to have this part of the journey behind us, my goal is to move through the process with a positive attitude and a faith that is a witness to the Source of my strength.

Oh, and did I mention that my house looks absolutely fab-u-lous?!?!?











Counting my blessings....

Jane