I thought it would be fun to put together a wish list to give to Santa for real estate agents. Some of us have been naughty and some have been nice. I have been both this year, but not at the same time.

Either way, it’s always alright to make a list for Santa.

There are fewer Realtors in 2012 than there were in 2011. Most of us did not get rich this year, but it was a better year than 2011 for housing markets in most of the country. We saw fewer foreclosure and lower unemployment rates, and that makes it just a little easier to be joyous this holiday season.

I thought it would be fun to put together a wish list to give to Santa for real estate agents. Some of us have been naughty and some have been nice. I have been both this year, but not at the same time.

Either way, it’s always alright to make a list for Santa.

There are fewer Realtors in 2012 than there were in 2011. Most of us did not get rich this year, but it was a better year than 2011 for housing markets in most of the country. We saw fewer foreclosure and lower unemployment rates, and that makes it just a little easier to be joyous this holiday season.

What we do every day is work, and working on a 100 percent commission basis isn’t for wimps or whiners. There are no paid holidays and health insurance is so expensive that a person can get sick just thinking about all the things that money could buy. We take risks and face hazards on the job — some of us even die.

Don’t get me wrong — I love what I do. Most days it is worth it, and most anything that is worth doing isn’t easy.

My Christmas wish list for real estate agents everywhere

Here’s wishing that:

  • All of your listings appraise.
  • All of your sales close.
  • All of your phone calls, emails and text messages to other agents are returned promptly and courteously.
  • Your sellers are not fond of cooking liver and onions before your open house.
  • You always choose the proper footwear for showing unheated houses in below freezing weather.
  • Your broker makes sure that you get your commission checks as quickly as possible, and that they are always accurate.
  • We’re all able to find each and every one of our receipts at tax time, and may all of our 1099s be accurate and arrive on time.
  • All of the real estate agents we deal with in 2013 say "please" and "thank you."
  • We get through at least one holiday party or family celebration without having to respond to a real estate emergency.
  • The batteries for our various electronic devices last as long and work as hard as we do.
  • We always have enough bars to make phone calls and use our smart phones.
  • The banks approve our short sales before they foreclose on our clients’ loans.
  • None of our friends or family chooses another agent.
  • Representatives of the National Association of Realtors treat all dues paying members with respect — even those who have not been appointed to committees.
  • Property valuation sites show values that are higher than the price we put on our listings.
  • Companies that offer products and services to real estate agents stop calling us on our cell phones while we are on the freeway.
  • Office meetings be interesting — or at least have good coffee and pastry.
  • All of our buyers be preapproved, and their loans receive prompt final underwriting approval.
  • We don’t fall off the fiscal cliff and our elected representative start getting some work done.
  • The world doesn’t end on Dec. 21, and that 2013 is a great year to be a real estate agent.

As always, I wish for too much, but will settle for peace on earth.

We all know there is no greater gift than our family and friends, especially if those families are perfect.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×