The Missed Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

The Missed Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

If there’s one thing I’ve seen consistently over the years, it’s this:

Most people feel more comfortable following the herd.

When the market slows, prices soften, and sellers become flexible, that’s when smart buyers should be stepping in. But instead, many wait — hoping for the perfect moment when both prices and interest rates drop together. That almost never happens.

They sit on the sidelines, unsure. And while they wait, great opportunities pass them by.

This isn’t a new pattern — it happens every market cycle. Very few people have the vision, or the courage, to act when conditions actually favour them. The ones who do often look back with a sense of quiet satisfaction, having secured the right property while others hesitated.

On the flip side of that coin? Think back to the bull markets of 2016–2017 or 2020–2021. The fear of missing out was in full effect. Buyers were diving in head first — waiving conditions, overbidding by hundreds of thousands, and competing in frenzied bidding wars. No negotiating. No protections. Just blind urgency.

In both cases — the hesitation in a buyer’s market, and the frenzy in a seller’s market — the common thread is the same: people reacting emotionally instead of strategically.

I’ve always had a kind of love affair with the real estate market. I study it, listen to it, and work with it in harmony — because when you understand what the market is telling you, it can reward you handsomely. But when you ignore it, the consequences can be steep — sometimes costing hundreds of thousands, even millions, in missed opportunity or overpayment.

And just to be clear: I’m not sharing this to push anyone into action for my benefit. I’ll be just fine in any market. This is about you — making decisions from a place of clarity rather than emotion.

Right now, we’re in a buyer’s market. Prices are negotiable, competition is softer, and sellers are listening. If you’ve been thinking about making a move, this might be one of those moments where it pays to be ahead of the herd — not swept up in it.

If you want to talk it through, I’m here. No pressure — just perspective.