Determination and the American Dream of Home Ownership

One of the activities that I most enjoy is networking with successful people in a variety of businesses.  I always learn valuable life and business lessons.

Recently, I had one such meeting with Jacqueline Collins, the founder and owner of Partnering for Performance, Business Coaching and Advisory Services.

We met at Panera Bread at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham – by the way, a great place to network.  During our conversation, we discussed her journey (both business and personal), her successes, and how she overcame adversity.

Being entrepreneurial, she started a cleaning company first, sold that, then opened a retail store in Merchants Row Marketplace in Hanover, MA. While working with the retail store, she also started a career in financial services. Thirteen years ago, she founded Partnering for Performance, and in time sold her retail business.

I find Jacqueline to be caring, hard-working, resourceful, and forward-thinking: an entrepreneurial woman who is true to her core values.

What struck me most as she described her journey were her determination and drive.  In a very matter-of-fact way, she mentioned that during part of her journey she was faced with a divorce.  What she then said gave me pause as a Realtor.  She explained that what kept her motivated during that time was her determination to “keep my house”.  She added that her career path was her “roadmap to keeping and maintaining the home I loved.”

How interesting!

The comments and determination of one successful entrepreneur and her attitude towards home ownership reflect the findings of recent public opinion polls.

One survey conducted on January 2-5, 2012 on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders found that “Americans Place High Value on Homeownership.” Key findings:

• 96% of homeowners are happy with their decision to own a home.
• 84% who are ‘underwater’, or who owe more on their mortgages than their home is worth, expressed the same sentiment.
• 78% of respondents said that owning their own home is very important to them.
• 7 out of 10 voters who are not currently home owners said it was their goal to buy a home.

Another survey  conducted in June by New York Times/CBS News found that 89% of respondents said that “homeownership is an important part of the American Dream.”

The American Dream! Home Ownership! The polls measure it! I experience it! So clearly expressed in Jacqueline Collins’s story.  So clearly expressed in my clients’ eyes on “closing day”. Their piece of land; their home; their dreams fulfilled.

For more information, click here or visit www.nahb.org/homeownershippoll.

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