This Sunday’s All About Real Estate radio show is dedicated to the memory of Mike Pallen.Mike was someone who mattered deeply to me. He believed in people, in kindness, and in the quiet power of giving. He lived the very values behind the You Get By Giving philosophy, founded by Floyd Wickman and rooted in a positive attitude, selfless giving, and courage.   One of the greatest honors was receiving the award above from Floyd.Floyd WickmanWhat made it even more meaningful was that it was a complete and total surprise. The night before the award, Lee and I had dinner with Mike, never suspecting what the next day would bring.Mike PallenWhen it was announced, I was in total disbelief.  I walked up to the stage and took the microphone to accept the award. Instead of saying Thank you, I said... 12/13/2025

 Aha’ Moment - Self-discovery and Personal Growth This month’s theme of self-discovery has me reflecting on my journey through several decades. Have you ever experienced a moment that opened your eyes to a new path? For me, it came during a challenging time. As a dedicated stay-at-home mom, I had poured my heart into my ceramics business, creating custom pottery for designers, private clients, the D&D Building in DC, and creating displays in jewelry store displays. It was fun having my pieces draped with diamonds and pearls. It was a fulfilling way to express my creativity and connect with others. However, everything changed when a car accident left me with neck and back injuries. The surgery the doctors were recommending would not guarantee the use of my hands, forcing me to pause my c... 12/10/2025

So here is my 2nd attempt at our homework assignment. This time, following these directions. "Today's assignment is to visit your favorite AI platform and use the prompt, "Roast me like Comedy Central" and share what you get!  For your feature photo, ask your favorite graphic-generating AI platform to "Create a photo of me in the style of me in my environment." Here goes:   Alright — Comedy Central Roast level, gloves off, still love underneath 😈🔥Margaret Rome is Baltimore real estate’s final boss. She’s been selling houses so long that when a listing says “built in 1920,” she remembers the open house.She’s a former RN, which explains why every client gets medical clearance before writing an offer. Buyers don’t get pre-approved — they get triaged. “Your budget is bleeding, lie down.”Mar... 12/09/2025

Being a professional Realtor® means your calendar is rarely your own. Days fill up fast with appointments, showings, inspections, settlements, family commitments, and those rare moments you protect like they're gold. We all learn pretty quickly how to juggle priorities and keep things moving.What still surprises me, though, is how much information some people feel compelled to share when they’re unavailable.Trying to reach an agent about a closing challenge via email, text, and phone; the call was answered, and the response was: "This is not a good time, I’m getting a pedicure."Another was, “I’m at a medical appointment and won’t be feeling great afterward.”Helpful? Not really. Necessary? Absolutely not.Here’s the thing: being unavailable does not require a backstory. You don’t owe anyo... 12/14/2025