The end of a year always invites a pause. Not the rushed kind, but the intentional one—where you look back honestly before stepping forward with hope.

This past year didn’t move the way many of us expected. The beginning came in with momentum, optimism, and plans that felt familiar. And then somewhere in the middle, the pace shifted. The market slowed. Summer arrived without the usual flurry that so many of us in real estate are accustomed to. It took some getting used to—not because slower is bad, but because it was different