Hey everyone! I hope you’re doing well.

 

As the year wraps up, I wanted to take a moment to share a little 2025 recap and look ahead to 2026. It was truly an inspired, once-in-a-lifetime year for me. If you missed it, my big adventure was a 27-day solo motorcycle ride, over 7,000 miles, coast to coast — mostly on dirt trails. It was epic, and it was deeply personal, because the ride benefited the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my mom Sandy. Together, we raised $25,000!

 

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated — large and small — and to everyone who reached out with encouragement along the way. It meant more than you know. And a special shout-out to my rockstar daughter Jenna, and our amazing colleagues Michelle, Konner, and Helena. There’s no way I could’ve done this without you.

 

The adventure itself was incredible. I went to some remote and beautiful places, saw wildlife I never expected — bears, deer, elk, moose, lynx, wild horses — and somehow made it back in one piece. Everywhere I went, people were engaged. The purple motorcycle covered in graphics definitely helped illicit curiosity. It was a breath of fresh air to see, in real time, that there are warm, kind, generous people everywhere.

 

That trip required a lot of intention and planning, and it tied perfectly into a life philosophy you may have heard me talk about before: QTR — Quality Time Remaining. It’s a simple idea. Nothing is guaranteed and we don’t know how many laps around the sun we get, or how much quality time we have. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that ride forever, and I didn’t want to keep putting it off. Joy is what it was about, and that’s what I’m carrying into 2026.

 

I know what my thing is. I’m going to chase it every day if I can — sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ones. And I hope you’ll join me! I’d love for you to ask yourself: what’s the thing that brings you joy, and are you making room for it in 2026? Joy doesn’t always have to be epic. You can find it every single day if you’re looking for it.

 

 

On the business side...

 

2025 was pretty typical in a lot of ways. Things are finding balance again — more like 2019 and prior. The craziness of 2021 and 2022 is behind us. Inflation is down, energy and gas prices are down, rents are coming down, and interest rates are trending down as well. Fingers crossed that continues into 2026. That’s all good news, especially for first-time buyers, who really drive our market. It’s not a feeding frenzy anymore — it takes more intention, creativity, and work to get deals done, and Jenna and I are genuinely happy to do that work.

 

I know the headlines we see can be overwhelming and often conflicting and how things are done changes year to year. When I see a million+ results pop up online, I just want to pick up the phone and talk to someone I trust. Same goes for real estate. If you ever want help cutting through the noise, please give us a call. It’s an honor for me to be the guy that you call to help put it all in context.

 

Even if we didn’t do a transaction together this year, I still want to say thank you. Every time a client reaches out to share photos, updates, or stories about settling into their home, it truly makes my day. We’re so grateful to be part of your lives — cheering you on, celebrating your wins, and staying connected.

 

Looking ahead to 2026, my ultimate goal is more joy and more QTR. I’m going to be more intentional about staying in touch, so don’t be surprised if you hear from me — a call or a text just to catch up. I’d love to have more days grabbing coffee or lunch, or just checking in with the people who bring joy into my life.

 

I hope this message inspires you a little. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of you in the coming year. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and wishing you all the best in 2026. We’ll see you soon.