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“Who needs representation when buying a house? I can find one on my own.”

This is not an uncommon statement and might be spoken from someone who had a bad experience with an agent, from someone who hasn’t purchased a house before, or from someone who hasn’t done their research.

A good real estate agent helps their client maximize their dollars, saves valuable time, and delivers greater peace of mind knowing they are doing the right thing at the right time.

The agent should be well trained or highly experienced in every aspect of construction, financing, city development, economy, neighborhood values, and the actual process of writing agreements and negotiations.

The average person in the United States buys five homes in their adult life. The average agent sells nine homes per year. Who do you think has a better outcome - the represented person, or the unrepresented person? The same can be said of sellers, but that is for another day.

A real estate agent should help you clarify your desires, organize the features needed to support those desires, and ultimately understand why it’s important to you. A mother with two small children may want three bedrooms on one level, but what she really wants is to have the children next to her at night so she knows they are safe and secure. A good agent understands the reasons why you want what you want, so you actually get those things. They will keep you on the right path.

Great agents build relationships and they always look out for their client’s best interest. They are never pushy or interject their agenda on their clients. They lead their clients to the right conclusion, covering the pros and cons as they go; reminding them of the purpose for the move and keeping them from getting caught up in too much excitement. They bring common sense to the table, and care more about you than the commission.

This is what smart agents do. This is what smart clients should expect.

Tony Ratchford, licensed Broker, Author, Coach, Manager, and Sales Consultant
Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls

When your home fits you, it becomes a dream home. It is where your lifestyle is empowered. It is a reflection of who you are, where you are going, and what’s most important to you. It enables you to live your dreams with comfort, freedom, and security.

Finding a dream home is an emotional experience involving a complex mix of real estate knowledge, financial savvy, business sense, negotiation skills, and human psychology. The ability to interpret data and create a happy experience requires extensive thought and planning.      

To accomplish an ideal outcome one must truly understand the reason behind their desired features. Why is it important to have a master bath or an extra garage stall? Look for the benefit of a particular feature and try to discover a value that triggers your emotion.  

A young parent wants 3 bedrooms on one level so both children will be close at nigh - the importance, or value, is security. A master bathroom delivers privacy. An extra garage stall where cars and big toys are safe, or a workshop for protected serenity.

Every home purchase is driven by a motivating trigger from at least one core value. Others to consider include family, safety, financial, prestige, comfort, convenience, love, adventure, contribution, fun, friendship, wellness, or entertainment. There are many more to choose from.

It’s good to test one’s choice. Ask yourself “what is the payoff, or who benefits and why, if I get what I want?” The more depth to the research the better the outcome will be for you.

To help our clients gain confidence with their process, we developed a system where they could be assured to maximize their dollars and save them valuable time. Creating a comprehensive plan delivers peace of mind knowing they are on the right path. The steps include discovery, assessment, planning, implementation, and satisfaction.

The idea is to slow down the process in the beginning, putting all the pieces together before one gets too far along. It works. We invite you to give it a try.

Tony Ratchford, licensed Broker, Author, Coach, Manager, and Sales Consultant
Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls

Doing The Right Thing

Relationship building begins with doing what you say you will. It creates trust. Very few people are tolerant of those who make promises and don’t keep them. Going even further, one might think a person showing up late or not finishing what they start, and thinking nothing of it, is actually disrespectful.  

One has to wonder why it’s becoming commonplace to accept this as normal. Have we decided to eradicate our foundational principle of keeping our word? It happens when one decides it’s not important to keep a commitment. Worse yet, they decide the laws of order no longer apply.

Understanding the rules of a game is vital if one hopes to win. That means everyone plays by the same rules, or in other words, ‘there must be a commitment to each other.’

When an agent tells their homeowner/client what they can expect, it is not only appropriate for the homeowner to expect the agent to perform accordingly, but it is incumbent for the agent to perform. The same goes for the homeowner to the agent.  

I’ll go further. As an agent, it is not only a requirement to educate a homeowner, or future homeowner, of what services they can expect, but we ought to go beyond promises and deliver even more.

Yesterday, I was reading another article about how homeowners are paying too much in brokerage fees. The words ‘too much’ are arbitrary and they depend on what a homeowner receives for the fee. If there is an unbalanced exchange of trade, then those words apply. An agent must provide more to the client than the client can do for themselves, and if the outcome is greater with an agent than without, then the words ‘too much’ disappear.  

Often, homeowners don’t know what an agent does or should do. It begins by establishing a desired outcome for the client with an ideal time frame and predetermined process. The path should be laced with proper manners, respect, communication, attention to detail, and leadership toward accomplishing the goal. Showing up on time, doing what they say they will, finishing what they start, and saying please and thank you is a great start.

Developing a comprehensive plan is the ideal method to help current or future homeowners maximize their dollars, save valuable time, and ultimately deliver greater peace of mind.  

The foundation of life remains the same as it has been forever. All relationships survive when each person gives something of value in return of an equally perceived something of value. It is simply a focused contribution and acceptance of value from one person to another. For Real Estate Agents and Clients, it’s a fair exchange of services for compensation given.

We invite you to call or text 605.359.4100

Tony Ratchford

Everyone loves to talk about real estate, at least those I know. They read or hear the news about how hot the market is and assume it’s a wonderful thing, but like most things, it’s in the eye of the beholder.

Sellers are doing quite well this year. Homes are selling faster. An average of 76 days on the market in the metro area. That’s down 12% from last year. The average sale price is up to $293,826 or 15.7% year over year. Demand for homes is sky high.

Buyers aren’t having as much fun as sellers. Lower inventory levels limit their choices and are driving prices up. So far, buyers have good purchasing power, thanks to low mortgage rates; presently below 3% for a 30 year loan, but when values go up so do payments. Buyers will start to lose interest when the percentage of their income for housing goes too high. Demand will diminish and home values will retreat.

There are some frustrated sellers too; those who want to move up but have nowhere to go at the moment. This can either stop them from selling or force them to make two moves or potentially owning more than one house.

The reason for the current market condition is plentiful. The dip in inventory is deeper than most cycles. Complications from Covid-19 lockdown has disrupted the natural market, and the government ‘fixes’ have made the situation worse. What we do know is real estate ownership in the Sioux Empire looks to be solid for a long time. Favorable economic and political environments are creating exceptional momentum for growth. Employment demand is up, wages are rising, and consumer confidence remains high. In addition, mortgage rates are expected to remain near the present level. Unfortunately, inflation is about to rear its ugly head. One of the best ways to protect one’s wealth is to be invested in hard assets such as real estate. Get in early and stay in.

Many people think real estate transactions are easy, but 95% of the time they are not. There are many moving parts plus high levels of emotions, requiring constant monitoring and finesse. Problem solving is a regular daily exercise. The Dream Home Process™ helps our clients maximize their dollars, save them valuable time, and deliver greater peace of mind as they maneuver through the maze.

We invite you to call or text 605.359.4100

Tony Ratchford, licensed Broker, Author, Coach, Manager, and Sales Consultant

Have you noticed how some people seem to have a charmed life while others struggle? Why is it one person always wins while another loses? Is it possible they each bring a different intangible factor to the table? Could it be their mind set?

Tom Hopkins, a famous sales trainer, is noted for stating “10% of our success is knowledge and 90% is attitude.” In other words, we may be able to influence our fate by how we approach life.  

One might begin by defining what success means. The answer could be as simple as ‘getting what you want.’  Many years ago I began to ask “what exactly has to happen for me to be happy about being a spouse, father, family member, and friend? What about my business career, finances, and my contribution to others? And what do I need for my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being?” The answers must be specific with priority for importance of category.  

The biggest question for many of us is “Does success make us happy or does happiness make success?”

Right or wrong, I believe all success starts with a positive attitude. We can either approach a task with a winning attitude or as a defeatist. It’s interesting to note how often we get what we expect.  Winners believe they will win and they do everything they can to make it happen, while losers usually let life just happen without focus and then blame the outcome on some thing or someone else for their loss.  

I see this often when someone is either buying or selling a home. Those who are most proactive, attentive, and create a vision for success usually celebrate a better outcome than those who are unprepared or lack focus.

My good friend Marian York, writer and motivational speaker, taught we must have precise clarity for our lives. “What is it you want?” she would ask me. “What can be done to get what you want, and then what are you willing to do to get what you want?” The final answer to whether you will or won’t depends on your level of desire.

So, what is getting most of your attention today? Is there something or someone creating a distraction? Are you allowing outside influences to take you off track? Do you listen to the news or social media and is it filling your head with nonsense? Maybe it’s time for you to start analyzing exactly what you want and how you can get it. Is it time to believe everything will work out as it should and hopefully what you want you’ll get? There is incredible power in believing…it can be negative or positive. It is a choice!

I would be remiss with my position if I didn’t mention owning a home, one that fits your ideal lifestyle, ought to be a priority. It covers a lot of life’s bases...and of course, it can bring a little more happiness.

We invite you to call or text…605.359.4100

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group

He was 14 when his father died. Living at home with his mother and sister and a shortage of income, he quit school and looked for a job. The Prendergast Family ran Kansas City underground…his job was running gambling numbers on the streets. An impressionable young boy learned his lessons quickly and recorded both the good and the bad with one line quotes. This became his code. Determined to have a better life, he joined the Army, married, and after WWII they made their way to South Dakota.

Always self-employed…the journey of raising five children wasn’t easy. Many days and nights were spent trying to ‘crack the nut,’ his idea of making sure he made enough money every day to provide for the family...which was his endless driving force.

“If you want to be an eagle, you need to fly with the eagles” were his words. “You don’t need to experience everything to learn a lesson…successful people and history are great teachers.” Be a good student, pay attention, and ask questions…knowledge builds confidence.

Catholic school, street experience, and Army training defined a set of solid core principles. He judged people quickly by what they did and not by what they said. He seldom gave a second chance. His word was golden and expected everyone else to be the same. There was little tolerance for not telling the truth. Respect was top of the list followed closely by a commitment to do the right thing.

He trusted in God and lived the Serenity Prayer. He believed we innately know what is right and what is wrong. Rules are good guidelines but not necessarily needed for those with a good heart. Life is better for everyone when we do the right thing and not when we don’t…one shouldn’t need to be reminded, but when it was needed, it should be quick and significant.

There was no substitute for hard work and good money management. “Cash is King” was his motto. Make money, save, and live on what’s left. Minimize debt. Keep good reserves. Invest wisely. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself. Be self-sufficient. Take care of those you love and be generous with your time and money.

He was proud of his accomplishments and humbled by the success. He was my father and if alive today, I’m fairly certain he’d wonder what we did with our founding principles? Common Sense always prevailed for him…he’d wonder where that went too.

When it’s time to consider making a move from where you live now…The Tony Ratchford group has a practical and proven process to help you maximize the outcome.  
 
Tony Ratchford, The Tony Ratchford Group

It was midmorning when I stopped by the coffee shop for a pastry and a cappuccino. The storeowner asked me “how is real estate doing; I heard there is a shortage of homes for sale?”

I replied “the inventory levels are low and it’s causing a bit of a problem.”

The owner began to tell a story about a friend who was trying to purchase a home but lost out to a higher bidder, and asked “have you ever seen a market like this?”

I said to him, “yes, I’ve heard this story many times lately, and it won’t be over soon.”

I thought to myself, the market ebbs and flows but these condition seem different than most. A recent example of fast rising prices was in the early 2000’s when a high demand for housing resulted from a change in governmental policy requiring no documentation to obtain a loan. The result was artificial demand and lack of supply. Prices moved up quickly, and once the pyramid stopped, prices fell drastically.

Again in the 1970’s and early 1980’s poor economic policies gave us run-away inflation and minimal productivity growth, also known as ‘stagflation.’ It ultimately delivered erratic prices and the lowest level of homes for sale, and sold, in decades.

A review of history will show housing markets are mostly driven by economic policy, but it’s not the only factor today causing high demand. The self-induced Covid-19 shut-down changed how people live in their homes and they now look for alternative housing. First-time buyers still want to own rather than rent. And we are seeing a higher number of people moving into the Sioux Empire. Add to this, historically low mortgage rates and a huge supply of money available for banks to lend and consumers to spend.   

On the other hand, the supply of homes for sale is down, and for several reasons. Empty-nesters are staying in their homes longer, construction of new homes has been disrupted by the effect of Covid-19 shut-down on the supply-chain, and many people are reluctant to place their home on the market for fear of not finding another.   

To continue our conversation, the storeowner asked “can we expect the housing market to crash like before, and if so, when will it happen?”

“I’ll be surprised” was my answer. “It can be quantified with historical data. As long as the economy holds up, we will be alright. This is a true bullish market based on growth and policies from the past few years. Nonetheless, there will come a time when prices will level off due to one or more factors of higher interest rates, higher taxes, a slower economy, and the natural movement of supply and demand through pricing.”

“Such as, the supply of homes will increase because prices rise so much that sellers jump into a hot market, trying to take advantage of higher prices. All the while, demand slows as buyers put their plans on hold until prices soften.”

The storeowner looked pensive and did not reply. One might think it’s complicated, but perhaps not if one is to study basic economics and historic patterns.

Locally, the future of real estate looks bright, at least for now. In the meantime, one might do well getting settled in while the getting is good. Buy as much house as you can for as long as you can with the least amount of money down. Make sure you get the right house that fits your lifestyle the best for today as well as tomorrow.

One last thought…financial basics can instill confidence and security…keep a good level of cash reserves, minimize debt, and keep good balance in your life.

The Ratchford Group has a proven process to help you maximize your dollars and give you peace of mind knowing you are doing the right thing at the right time.

We invite you call or text anytime…605.359.4100

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group

A romantic person’s view of February is to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s a time to embrace those who are the closest to you, and perhaps, a time to shift your thought from the daily reminders of hysteria to intimate moments of love.

Time may stop for a short moment or last forever. It could be a couple getting engaged, planning a wedding, or researching for a new home. It might be the beginning of a new chapter in life or a celebration of something already great.

Creating a good life is an inherent drive. The American Dream for many years was to get married, have a good job, and own a home. Herbert Hoover may be credited for saying prosperity was “a chicken in every pot, and a car in every backyard.” For many, life has been a struggle and the American Dream is just a dream.  

The romantic side of me believes the Dream is still alive. Everyone ought to have a chance of having a good job and owning a home. Thankfully, those of us who live in the Sioux Empire have an excellent chance of getting both.

The changing of the guard in Washington, DC this last January has some people wondering what the future will bring. They ask if this is a good time to buy, move up, move down, or put their life on hold and wait to see what develops. Will the economy stay on a steady path, and will home values increase?

Home values have been increasing for some time, and it appears they will continue to do so over the next few years. Mortgage rates are still low: about 2% for a 15 year loan and 2.5% for a 30 year loan. A shortage of homes for sale, strong local economy, growing population and job growth will continue creating demand for more houses.

One thing we know from history is real estate ownership has been a healthy long term investment. We also think living in a house that matches the way you live, ultimately gives you a greater chance for happy days filled with love. 

One last thought. Inflation is inevitable. Home values will go up. One good way to protect your money against inflation is to be invested in hard assets. 

There it is. Love your partner. Love the House. Be happy!

Tony Ratchford, The Tony Ratchford Group. KW Realty Sioux Falls.

I once heard a speaker say “we are either going in or coming out of a crisis at all times.” In other words, there is always some form of crisis at hand and since we can’t avoid them…we need to learn how to handle them. 2020 gave us much to think about. Without diminishing the loss of a loved one, it has been confounding to hear the extraordinary amount of complaining. This certainly has been a year where things could have gone better, but regardless of how ugly things can be there is always more good going on than bad. In our world of exceptional abundance, why do we find so many people with negative thoughts? They talk and act like a victim? They scream the sky is about to fall? And, regardless of how well things are working they find something to complain about. During my childhood, a picture frame hung on my parent’s bedroom wall. ‘God give me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.’ I don’t know of a more powerful set of words. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale preached the concept of Positive Thinking. Dr. Robert Schuller and Napoleon Hill suggested outcomes are manifested with our belief, our thought, and the way we speak. Those who believe good things will happen are usually the ones who have a good life. Personally, I’d rather hang-out with people who are excited about life, speak with gratitude for what they have, and believe the future will be even better, rather than listening to some grumpy victim who blames everyone else for their lost position in life. With that said, I fully acknowledge my complaining about those who complain is doing the same thing they are doing and I’m not any better than the complainer. So, I’ll stop now. The good news…real estate ownership in the Sioux Empire has out-performed any year we’ve had in several decades and our economy today is one of the best in the Union. The future is bright and South Dakota continues to be a great place to live. We are free, friendly, and happy people. And when it doesn’t snow or rain we usually see the sunshine. Living in your house should fit your lifestyle as well as it can. When we change, the way we live changes, and so should your house. Discovering how to maximize your happiness in your home is our ultimate goal. We invite you to call or text…605.359.4100 Tony Ratchford, The Tony Ratchford Group

My father told me on more than one occasion, “When you lose your head, your butt will go with it.” It was his way of telling me when I flooded with emotion, I made foolish decisions. Those were my younger days; thankfully, maturity has taught me how to engage thought more often before taking action. When people are in the process of buying or selling a house, emotions are highly engaged. We first get excited, and later justify our decision with facts or logic. Occasionally, when using only the primal brain, fear takes hold and causes us to freeze or run away; we begin to doubt our decision because we didn’t engage thought.     A question which intrigues me is why people, in a high state of emotion, lose their ability to think or rationalize? And at times, completely lose all semblance of sanity. My lovely daughter-in-law Erin, who has several degrees in social work and studied the impacts of stress on the brain in graduate school, sent me an explanation of how our mind works. Here is an abbreviation: ‘We have only one brain that has developed over time, but it almost functions as two; a modern brain and a primal brain. The modern brain is responsible for problem solving, memory, language, judgment, impulse control, and reasoning.  While the primal part of the brain is responsible for survival, drive, and instinct.  When the primal brain is engaged, the modern part of the brain is not working. It is only when the primal brain turns off that the modern brain kicks into gear with parasympathetic nervous system responses. Stress, or a perceived threat, activates the primal brain and releases higher than normal levels of cortisol, disrupting overall brain function and causing people to overreact. It can create a fight or flight scenario, and erratic behavior.’ A high state of emotion prohibits us from making wise decisions, and might even be dangerous in some cases. This not only applies to the process of purchasing or selling a house, but in everyday life. How often do we let our emotions take control of what we say and do, without allowing our logic brain to engage? The key to making good decisions is to slow down. A friend of mine, who has spent many years in the world of psychology, suggests we should ‘feel’ first, ‘think’ second, and then ‘act.’ In that order. I suspect we can apply this wisdom most days.

Tony Ratchford, The Tony Ratchford Group and Broker for KW Realty Sioux Falls

Leadership might simply be defined as one person helping another person succeed. The best leaders are those who have the capacity to help a person discover how to use their unique ability to the highest benefit. This begins with that person understanding their strength and talent; and if possible their inter-values, principles, and desires.

Some time ago, a potential client and I were visiting, toward the end of the interview he asked me ‘what do you have to offer that another agent doesn’t?’ Unfortunately, I didn’t have an answer then, but I was determined to create one. It didn’t come easy and the answer was a lengthy learning process. It eventually became clear once I discovered a full understanding of what Value Creation means.  

The final conclusion is that a real estate agent must do for their client which the client can not do for themselves. The ultimate goal is for the client to have the best possible outcome through an extended effort by the agent. The result of this mind-set and process delivers a higher level of success for clients, for co-workers, and a satisfying career for the agent. A Win-Win for everyone!

Contrary to what some may think, leadership is not doing, or providing, things for another; that is referred to as enabling. Leaders’ help others learn how to become more self-reliant, creative, and perform in an arena where they can excel.

In today’s world of technology and ease of information, one may wonder if there is a need for a real estate agent? If the answer is to be yes, then that agent needs to be a leader. This means the agent must offer equal or more value to the client than the client gives up in monetary reward. It has to be a fair exchange of service and capital.

So, how does one develop into a great agent? It begins with becoming an agent who has the ability to help your client discover what’s most important to them. Helping the client fully understand why they are doing what they think they want to do. The agent should have good knowledge of the housing market, and a process to clearly define the right path for the client to take to take in order for them to reach an ideal outcome. Then you lead them to the right outcome by asking great questions.

Many times I worked with a client who knew what they wanted, but they didn’t know the right steps to take to maximize their outcome. Looking to find the best method, we created a process which is now proven to help our clients maximize their dollars, save them valuable time, and deliver peace of mind knowing they are doing the right thing at the right time.

Tony Ratchford, The Tony Ratchford Group and Broker for KW Realty Sioux Falls

Real Estate in the Sioux Empire is as strong as it been since the mid-1980’s; and it is real. This is not because of governmental manipulation, as it was in the early 2000’s, but with real buyers and real money. It is Free Market activity as it should be where buyers and sellers are establishing true market value without outside stimulus.

Fiscal and monetary policies, along with fewer regulations and solid employment, are working together to drive the economy. Seldom do we see a strong economy without seeing solid growth in new construction and a high level of real estate activity. One might argue which one comes first; but we know it takes employment and income plus consumer confidence for a real estate market to excel. 

A curious question to ask is, how long will this last? Real estate sales today are up about 8% over last year and prices are up 5%. It appears this pace can continue for some time; providing present government policies and low mortgage rates stay in place.

Covid-19 mandates have disrupted the market to some degree throughout the world, but thankfully most businesses stayed open in Sioux Falls, people kept their jobs, and consumers are spending money. The powerful economic engine that started a few years ago was going strong before the Covid-19 pandemic, and it has remained on solid ground here.

People’s desire to live a normal life appears to be driving a need for quicker solutions. Masks are now accepted as the saving grace for many businesses. Therapeutic discoveries are at hand, and vaccines are not too far off. We are learning how to cope with change and adversity.

According to the National CDC website, Covid-19 cases are up substantially; which is understandable as people are more engaged with life, but the weekly death rate has been dropping consistently since April 25^th. This surely is a good indicator we are on a good path.     

Mortgage rates have been in the 2.25% range for a 15 year loan, and 2.75% rate for a 30 year loan, and rates aren’t going up for a long time; this will continue to drive real estate ownership and equity for the foreseeable future.

This is a great market for both sellers and buyers. Sellers are getting more money for their house, and buyers are getting greater buying power with lower rates. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone; which doesn’t happen often enough.

We wish you a beautiful summer season, and invite you to call or text 605.359.4100.

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group, KW Realty Sioux Falls

Most of us have read all or part of The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution at some time in our life, but how many of us truly understand the history of how and why they were written?

It began in 1776 when an idea for the 13 Colonies ‘need not be under the rule of the Royal Crown’ anymore, was introduced in the Second Continental Congress. Five members were appointed to draft a Declaration of Independence. Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in a collective effort presented their work to the entire 55 member Congress for review and edit. A popular summation of their grievances was perfectly stated.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Later, the foundation for the Constitution was based on this principle as well as six additional fundamentals noted in the preamble; Secure the Blessings of Liberty, Promote the General Welfare, Insure Domestic Tranquility, Establish Justice, Provide for Common Defense, and to Form a More Perfect Union.

Many years have passed, and one must wonder if we have ever achieved these goals. Today, there appears much work to be done.

The basis for this Declaration was primarily about Freedom, or lack of; that’s why most traveled to the new world to start with, to escape dictators and unequal rule of law.

The Founding Fathers had different backgrounds and belief systems. They were well-schooled and experienced in world history. They understood why and how societies failed and what pieces succeeded. They used this knowledge and it took over ten years, with much discussion and debate, to complete the process.

The original immigrants to this country were rugged individuals and fiercely independent. They expected freedom, not just for themselves, but for others as well.

During the ten years of ratification, in order to further understanding for the content of The Constitution, The Federalist Papers were published. Guided under the name of Publius, from the Roman Empire, and authored by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. These 85 articles attempted to explain the meaning and to provide vision for the future. The Anti-Federalists wanted as little government as possible, which was originally reflected in the Articles of Confederation, but a need for a little more central government was conclusively acknowledged.

The final arguments created three branches of government, our present United States of America Constitution, and ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights; completed in 1787 and ratified by all Colonies in 1790. It established the rule of law, a system for changes to the constitution, and guidelines for continuation of a more perfect union.

It’s natural for us to want others to think and act like us, and in the past, people respected others beliefs and actions as long as it didn’t harm others.

One has to wonder how we deviated so far from this thought? We hear the word ‘divisiveness’ too often and we put labels on everyone. Labeling in itself is dividing and inherit in its meaning is to separate one from another. If this is true, we need to stop putting labels on people and treating others as different from us. If we are equal, then no one is special and no one should expect to be; doing so is simply divisive.

We can have a conversation about what our economic system should look like; whether we continue with Capitalism and more freedom, or move closer to Socialism and dependency. This is a discussion of how we want to live, but it isn’t about who we are. History is well written about these subjects and it is an important read for all those who want to have a discussion on individual or collective rights.

Everyone should have permission to choose their path, providing they don’t harm another person or property; this is if we want the Preamble to unfold. I’m curious, why do we think it’s all right for one person to project their belief on another, shame them if they don’t go along, and why do we, as individuals or as a country, accept that behavior?

And, when did the Rule of Law become an option? Law and Order is the only thing that separates us from anarchy and totalitarianism. It must apply to everyone, all the time, and without exception. It is our foundational principle.

In order for us to be a more perfect Union and a Civilized World, we must strive to create an environment for everyone to experience Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as they chose. Perhaps we could revive the word Respect; this is for all individuals, for our Country, for our history, and for us in our personal lives.

With that said, may I remind you that homeownership is the greatest of all freedoms; nowhere in the world does it exist as it does here in the USA.

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group, KW Realty Sioux Falls

The most frequently asked question today is how has the Covid pandemic affected real estate? The answer is a mixed bag. Nationally, sales fell off, mostly in the states that shuttered down, but in South Dakota it’s a different story.

There were people already in the process of selling and buying when the pandemic scare hit, those people continued with caution. Many others saw an opportunity with low mortgage rates and hoping to find an anxious seller willing to accept less for their home than normal, and there have been sellers wise enough to see a short supply of homes for sell to take advantage of a sellers’ market.

All in all, home sales are greater than last year. Prices in the lower bracket have increased, held steady in the mid ranges, but have lost ground in the upper bracket during the past few months.

Interesting how some agents and consumers were creative in their approach for showing their house and looking for a house. Some forecasters are stating the internet has truly arrived at taking real estate agents further out of the equation. Some think the historic method of physically viewing a home has or will be replaced with virtual walking tours. In Arizona, people are negotiating and buying homes unseen in person; once a purchase agreement is accepted, the buyer views the home for final approval of the property the day after; albeit, with a very large fallout rate.

It’s hard to believe many people will buy a home simply by watching a scripted and scrubbed video; certainly, it’s a time saving way to narrow a list of potential homes for the buyer plus save time and inconvenience for the seller. Ultimately, the new homeowner will want to make sure they see all of the house, it’s true condition, yard, and neighborhood before they solidify it satisfies their desires and develop a satisfactory dollar value.

There is no doubt new ideas for marketing will emerge and more convenience developed for both buyers and sellers. In addition, the real estate agent will become even more important if they provide greater value with marketing techniques for the seller, and more knowledge of homes and helping a buyer clarify what’s most important to them and the market value of the house. Not to mention the complicated process surrounding paperwork, negotiations, inspections, title, and the closing process.

Real estate continues to be a terrific investment as well as a place to enhance your lifestyle for years to come. The economy has taken a little hit, but it will rebound quickly and steady over the next year as jobs are replenished. Mortgage rates will stay low and we’ll see strong growth factors abound.

The Ratchford Group has a proven process to help you maximize your dollars, save you valuable time, and give you peace of mind you are doing the right thing at the right time.

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group, KW Realty Sioux Falls

Years ago I heard a famous motivational trainer, Tony Robbins, speak about how we accept or reject events. Most of us, when given positive or negative news, react accordingly. For example, someone gives us bad news, we automatically think of negative consequences, and the opposite is also true. But what we seldom do is think about the other side of the event.

The story he told went something like this:

There once was an old man in a small village and was the envy of the villagers because he owned a beautiful white stallion. When approached by his fellow villagers about his good fortunate, the old man would simply reply ‘ah, maybe.’

As luck would have it, the horse ran off one day and the villagers commented on how unlucky the old man became; the old man only replied with ‘ah, maybe.’ A few days passed, and the stallion returned with three wild female horses. The villagers couldn’t believe his good luck; he had a valuable horse that ran off, and now when the stallion returned, he has four horses instead of just one. The old man again replied to this event as he always did with ‘ah, maybe.’

The old man had a son, who had a desire to tame the wild horses. Unfortunately the only thing he broke was his legs. Now the villagers spoke about the old man’s misfortune. The old man continued with his statement of ‘ah, maybe.’

Shortly thereafter, the local village engaged in war with a distant village; all of the young men went off to battle except the old man’s son who was unable to fight due to his broken legs. When the elders said to the old man how lucky he was, he simply paused and said, ‘yes, maybe.’ And, the story continues.

The moral of the story is we never know what an event has in store for us. The old adage ‘there is a silver lining behind every cloud’ can be true. Although, when we are deep in the pain of trauma, it could be a lot harder to see a potential benefit. Generally speaking, it’s mostly our attitude that holds us back. Perhaps its fear or anger, but those who get to the other side successfully usually do so because they looked for opportunity and goodness that might come out of a tough situation.

Today, we are faced with a lot of questions. How we get to the other side will depend on our courage and resilience. We wish all of you good health, and when the time is right for you to pursue a different home, we will be here for you. Call or text 605.359.4100

Tony Ratchford, The Ratchford Group, KW Realty Sioux Falls

“Action is the foundational key to all success.” Pablo Picasso The end of a year is an interesting psychological time, it feels similar to reading a book and as we finish the last chapter, we close the book and look forward to another. This new book is ours to write. The beginning of a new year can be powerful as we celebrate our accomplishments. Unfortunately, our thought is often drawn to what we didn’t accomplish, more so than what we did. It’s an odd occurrence and it destroys our confidence. It’s better to spend energy working on improvement, rather than wasting time talking and thinking on things that don’t help us move forward. It’s a new year and time to set a new path toward new goals and desires.    So, what’s on that ‘bucket-list’ you’d like to do? Is there something you put off last year, or the year before? I heard a song the other day by Lee Ann Womack; she sang about giving her children advice on life, and how she hoped they would dance when the opportunity would arise, rather than sit it out. How many times have we said no, when we could have said yes? How often do we pass on opportunity, when it was just as easy to embrace it? In our world of real estate, we believe the house a person lives in should match their lifestyle. This we know offers the best opportunity to enjoy not only their home, but life itself. Yet, we see too many people hold on to something that doesn’t work as well as it could. We suspect there are many reasons, but the primary reason is fear of the unknown plus the inability to see clearly their desires and the path it takes to go from here to there. Those of us at The Ratchford Group use a trademarked and proven process, The Dream Home Vision, to help people find great clarity about the things that are most important to them, and discover solutions to improve their joy of homeownership. It also lets them maximize their dollars, minimize inconveniences, save valuable time, and gives them greater peace of mind knowing they are doing the right thing at the right time. The economy is as good as it’s been since the 1980’s, and it will continue as it did through the 1990’s. The key has been jobs. Household annual income is up 10% over the past two years, with the bottom income brackets performing better than the average. This drives consumer spending and capital investment by corporations creating demand for more workers and higher wages. Today, low mortgage rates, home values rising, high employment and increasing wages leads us to an ideal market for people wanting to sell and purchase homes. Time continues to pass by, leaving us less than we had before. We hope you’ll grab ahold of an exciting era of high prosperity and opportunity; find that new house which fits your lifestyle better and ultimately makes your life more enjoyable. Tony Ratchford, Broker for KW Realty Sioux Falls, CRS, ABR, SRES, Luxury Homes Institute Member

"Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside.  No matter what is going on outside of us, there is always something we could be grateful for."  Barry Neil Kaufman

This past summer, I was fortunate to travel in the Mediterranean. The history of Greece, Italy, France, and Spain was extraordinary as we visited famous sites from 2500 BC to castles of the sixteen century, and coastal cities alive with world travelers. It was interesting to see how the Old World lives today.

We spoke to many people who said their dream was to live in America. When asked why, they spoke mostly about the good life, freedom and abundance. It was easy to see why, as many of the cities are showing signs of distress with their infrastructure and economic conditions.

Upon returning to the USA, a keen awareness for what we have here was at hand, and a renewed sense of gratitude prevailed. It wasn’t just about how we live, but more appreciation for those who came before us and their contribution to today’s world of order and opportunity.

When we think of the pioneers who came to America, how did they survive the cold and heat, death and hardship? Armed only with a few possessions, big dreams, and ambition they forged ahead with mostly survival on their minds. Yet, many made it through it all to a world of abundance using their creativity, determination, and a positive belief they could make something better.

There are three virtues which have proven foundational in every successful society; humility, gratitude, and contribution. It’s hard to tell which one comes first, but one must, at some time, apply all three for the happiest of times.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid ugly rhetoric that resonates throughout our country. We know nothing is perfect, so, why do we waste time on that which has much to do about nothing, when we can put forth the same energy into improving things that need work and are important? Success does not arrive in a darkroom of negativity.

Lessons can be learned from those who came before us, and they deserve the greatest of praise and appreciation. Hopefully, today is a good time to complain less, embrace our goodness more, and give thanks to all who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and comfort. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Tony Ratchford, Broker for KW Realty Sioux Falls, CRS, ABR, SRES, Luxury Homes Institute Member