2023 has been like a rollercoaster ride for Chris and me – full of ups, downs, and a whole lot of excitement (and moving).

If you’ve been keeping up with us on social media, you probably saw that we bought a new home and moved in January of 2023. This was huge for us! We moved out of my beloved house in Military Park and found our new haven through one of my dear friends – it was a bit bigger and needed minimal updating. It was a great landing spot for us, but I knew deep down it wasn’t our forever home.

We had dreams of finding a project home on some acreage with trees where we could enjoy that slow-living lifestyle, but we also didn’t want to give up the conveniences of being close to the city and near my work. The first half of the year, we enjoyed a sweet new routine in our house on Linn, taking walks to Summer Moon with Samwise and Indiana, keeping tabs on The Oak's progress (OKC's newest fancy development), and, of course, dabbling in a few house projects. I even started baking homemade bread!

While we loved the rhythm and routine we found in our new home, we still had our dream to find our “forever home” (read: I stalked the MLS every day and sent Chris links to listings weekly, and I’m quite sure he got tired of it).

And then something magical happened this summer that will forever live in real estate infamy.

We found THE HOUSE.

It was everything we wanted and more. It sits on just over 1.7 acres and is only a 6-minute drive to work. It is full of history, AND it just had a contract bust and was going back on the market. We had to have it.

So, what would any sane Realtor do?

Orchestrate getting THREE homes listed so we had the cash needed to purchase and renovate our dream home. If you aren’t familiar with the real estate market of the last few years, you need to know that up until this year, contingencies weren’t being accepted, much less a TRIPLE contingency. That means we had to successfully close on three of our homes before we were able to purchase a new one.

A few things were on our side in this:

1. I had a great relationship with the listing agent.

2. Because I’m a Realtor, she knew I would do whatever it took to get my three homes sold quickly.

3. I had all of the necessary contacts to get these three listings photographed and staged so that they could get active on MLS ASAP if/when the seller accepted our offer.

The magic happened when all three of our houses sold within the first week of going on the MLS and all with Realtors I have great relationships with and buyers with solid financing. This was the domino that allowed us to move forward with purchasing our home. A lot more had to go right for us to make this happen, and I feel forever grateful for each person who played a part.

On August 31st, with the help of our friends and family, we packed up our U-Haul for a successful back-to-back closing on our dream home. We moved in that day and immediately got to work ripping up the carpet. Our doggos Samwise and Indiana have adapted to the “country” life and enjoy spending time outside chasing birds, squirrels, and rabbits. We can’t wait for all of the memories we know will be created here.

Despite the wild ride in our personal life, Chris and I have continued to thrive professionally. We both absolutely love the work that we do.

My day-to-day work world as Assistant Team Leader at Keller Williams Elite continues to bring me so much joy! My days are packed with coaching and consulting Realtors, and honestly, I'm loving every bit of it. It’s an honor to see the growth in our office and in the lives of the Realtors I work with, even in a challenging economic climate. I continued pouring into the OKC Ladies of Real Estate Group and found some amazing and fulfilling friendships blossom through it. This year I hosted a ladies brunch where we got to learn life lessons from Mo Anderson, and I led a group of over 40 women through a 2024 business planning workshop. I truly felt in my flow in these moments.

Chris is one of the most amazing and creative people I know. The House Creates, his photo + video + live production business, has doubled in size over the last year. He has some fun passion projects up his sleeve for 2024 — stay tuned for the launch of Bites&Stripes.

More than anything, we decided to just roll with the punches this year, learning to live in the “in-between”, and being open-handed with each and every day we are given. It's been a wild ride but also an incredible adventure. We've learned a ton, laughed a lot, and just enjoyed the journey.

As for 2024, we're stepping into it with open arms, ready for whatever adventures it brings. I'm excited to continue my journey with the Keller Williams team, and you can bet Chris and I will be diving into more home projects – there’s always something to do!

If you're thinking 2024 might be your year to find a forever home, or make any real estate moves, I'm here to help. Whether it's local insight or connecting you with trusted Realtors across the country, I’ve got you covered. The market always has its surprises, but one thing's for sure – people will be buying, selling, and investing in real estate. If you, your friends, or your family need guidance, I'd be thrilled to be your go-to resource.

Thank you sincerely for your constant support and for being an integral part of our lives. We're eager to hear about your 2024 plans and adventures. Wishing you a holiday season that sparkles with joy, laughter, and love. And who knows? Maybe we'll have the chance to welcome you into our new home soon – we'd love that!

Sending heaps of love and all the best for an enchanting new year.

With love,

Mary, Chris, Samwise, and Indiana