Solano Real Estate Scene: Set goals for the new year

Holy cow, it is hard to believe that 2022 is almost here after almost 24 months dealing with this pandemic. Three of my six siblings graduated from college, but I decided to go to work at 19, get married and have four kids in rapid succession. My education was forced on me by a couple corporate training programs at Beneficial Finance Company and Weyerhaeuser Mortgage from 1979 to 1993. I was also encouraged to attend seminars, read books, listen to motivational tapes and see as many great public speakers as I could over the past 40 years. One thing that most of the greatest achievers, coaches and motivational speakers suggest is to set goals each year, write them down and keep them visible so that you can see what your goals are for the next year, and update your long-term goals once a year for five to 10 years down the road. I have seen dozens of world-renowned inspirational speakers over the years and in addition to goal-setting and specifically writing down my goals each year, almost all these great people suggested physical fitness, life balance, nutrition, healthy habits and taking time off for R&R. I wasn’t listening to this health part of the seminars, and I haven’t written down my goals every single year, but I have always made short-term and long-term goals every few years and I make things-to-do lists monthly, so I don’t forget to do stuff or procrastinate. I know a lot of people that are a lot smarter and more organized than me, and I try to copy these people and steal brain cells from them. One thing I started a couple years ago that I learned from a client is to make a list at the beginning of the new year of everything that needs to be done at my house in the next year to keep it from falling apart. For example, No. 1 on my list for 2022 is to repair my roof gutters and drains because they are not handling all this recent rain. No. 2, I need to have someone look at our insulation because although our windows are new, our house, which was built in 1986, is freezing when the heater is off in the winter. It is a good idea to set goals and make lists about what you need or want to accomplish in 2022 and start early because if you want to sell your home and move up, down or out, you might as well start doing your homework now even if you are going to do this in the spring or summer. The same thing goes for that bathroom and kitchen remodel you have been promising your spouse. Get started now or you can always get out of this promise by waiting till summer and blaming the supply chain and contractor shortage. Make 2022 a great year. Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.