I've been helping my daughter Candice launch her real estate business while here on an extended visit. It's been quite an experience...

There is a tiny bundle curled up on my lap as I write this...a small miracle...

I met Monica just over a month ago at a townhouse we were showing. I showed her around but couldn't miss the disappointment in her eyes.
"Isn't this what you're looking for?" I asked,
"It's perfect but I really need three bedrooms. I just can't seem to find one in my price range."
I asked a lot of questions and soon established that she was a divorcee with three children, two sons and a daughter. Her ex husband had a drinking and gambling problem and had abandoned his family. She was hard working and had struggled to sustain her small family on a single income. They were all living in a tiny apartment but were finally ready to buy a place of their own. She had faithfully saved for this day but soon discovered that prices had risen and a three-bedroomed townhouse with a garden (something she really desired) was now out of her reach.

Something in this woman touched me and I found myself promising that I would find her something in her price range. I appeared more confident than I felt. Over the next week, my morning ritual was to pour through the listings in search of something that fit her criteria. It seemed an impossible job. Other agents laughed at me during this time.
"She's looking for a 3-bedroom townhouse for what price??? You've got to be kidding Chanti. You'll never find one."
"Hahaha. Did you say she wants a garden too? I'm afraid this woman is going to have to sacrifice something. Why can't she buy an apartment or something?"
To all this I'd respond, "I will find her what she wants. She has three children who deserve to live in a decent place and to have a garden of their own. Who am I to spit on her dreams?"
"But don't you see that you're giving her false hope? Why would you promise to find her what she wants if it's not possible?"
"Who says it's not possible?" I'd reply with more conviction than I felt.

I really believed with all my heart that I would find the right place but in time my confidence was shaken. All the words spoken by the other agents came back to haunt me and I wondered if I had not perhaps given her false hope. Every few days I'd call her and give her an update. She'd confidently say, "Chanti I KNOW that you'll find me what I'm looking for."
Uhoh, I was in trouble. I started to question myself. Was my ego in this? Did I make the promise because I wanted her think highly of me? If this was the case, it was stupid because I knew that I'd soon have egg on my face. After questioning my own motives, I realised that I'd made the promise in good faith. I've always believed that if you want something badly enough and if you believe strongly enough, you will have it.  Eventually I found something just within her price range and called her. We went to look at the place together and my heart dropped. It was situated right next to a busy highway and the garden was the size of a postage stamp. I kept silent as she walked through the spacious townhouse. I could tell that she was disappointed. In spite of my desire to find her the right home, I found myself becoming a little upset. The words of the other agents resounded in my ears, "Beggars can't be choosers."
I didn't try to convince her one way or another but remained silent. As we left, her small son placed his hand into mine and turned to his mother, "Can we take the lady home with us?" She laughed and said, "He really must like you."
At that moment a fierce determination entered into me. I knew that this was not the place she was meant to have and I told her that I would renew my efforts to find her the right one. She looked at me with complete faith and said, "I know you will."
The little voice inside said 'Here you go again, making promises you may not be able to keep. What are you doing?' I silenced that inner voice of doubt and renewed my efforts with fervour.

Every day I'd check the listings and phone the listing agents for details. I poured through magazines and newspapers and through private property listings. I could find nothing suitable. One morning I came into the office and Candice was working on the listings. She is very much like me in many respects but she'd also expressed doubt that I'd be able to find anything suitable in Monica's price range. This particular morning she looked up at me and said, "I've found something that might work for Monica but it's a bit more than she wants to pay. Do you think she can raise the extra money?"
"No, I don't believe she can but let me check it out first."
I called the agents and made arrangements to view the townhouse. I was going to look at it myself first but on an impulse called Monica and told her what I planned to do. She offered to come and look at it with me.

Later that afternoon, Monica met me at my office and we drove together to view the place. I was quiet. In all honesty I was praying that this would be the right one but I still had those nagging doubts. It seemed to have everything but was listed at a much lower price than it should have been listed at. 'What is wrong with this place?' I wondered.

When we entered the townhouse, I can only describe Monica's reaction to it as that of a childs on entering a virtual fairyland. Her eyes lit up and she walked from room to room with something akin to rapture playing upon her face. The place was perfect in every respect. The garden was beautifully kept and it even had a gorgeous water feature and stepping stones. It was obvious that the owners had put a lot of care and love into the place. I remember thinking 'What's the catch? Is the listed price right?' I soon confirmed it with the agents and Monica and I went to a local restaurant to sign up the paperwork. While we were there, my phone rang. It was another client in a total state about the sale of his property. I had sold it subject to a Section 38 (relating to sub-division) being granted. Council were just not playing ball. I had paid them countless visits and sent numerous emails but had achieved little progress. I was feeling the frustration and his call only served to heighten the stress I was feeling. When I ended the call, Monica politely enquired about it and I briefly explained the problem. She listened and then smiled.
"I used to head that division of council. Perhaps I can help. Let me make a few calls in the morning to see if I can speed the process along." I couldn't believe my ears. It seemed like more than a coincidence. What are the odds that she would have worked for the very department I'd had such difficulty with? I knew that if I did not get the Section 38 soon I'd lose the deal. It wasn't my commission I was worried about. I knew that the seller urgently needed the money and I was concerned about him. I also knew that the buyer urgently needed to build as his wife was pregnant. The situation had seemed hopeless. I'd been told that a Section 38 could take as long as 18 months. I didn't want to place all my faith in Monica's intervention but it did seem a little more than coincidental that she had retained good friendships with those in charge.

Monica went on to sign the papers. I told her that the place was more than she was prepared to pay but she confidently suggested that she put in a lower offer and we work from there. I knew that the townhouse was already under-priced and I didn't have much hope that they'd be prepared to drop even further but I was prepared to put my heart and soul into it and negotiate. She signed off and I called the listing agents and asked for an appointment to present my offer. They told me that their clients would only accept an offer from them and my heart sunk. I asked if I could go with them but they insisted that they do it alone. I went to meet them with my Offer and on impulse explained the whole situation. I must have done so with a great deal of passion as one of the agents actually got tears in her eyes. They promised they'd do their best to convince the seller but expressed some doubt because the offer was very low. I told them I'd be praying.

I promised Monica that I'd call her the moment I got news. The hours seemed to drag on interminably but eventually the call came and the agent told me the great news. The offer had been accepted!!! I was stunned. It was without doubt a miracle. I thanked God over and over again for His intervention. When I called Monica to tell her the news, I listened with tears in my own eyes as the entire family whooped for joy. She was sobbing at this point and thanked me over and over again. I don't believe I deserved all the praise she heaped on me. After all, I'd had so many doubts and had come close to giving up. I knew, however, that I'd been allowed to play a part in this miraculous event and I gave thanks for it.
The one thing that stuck in my mind were her parting words to me on the phone, "Now maybe I can finally get my kids the puppy they've always wanted. We have a garden!"

The next day, my Section 38 was granted. Monica had made a few calls and somehow things had been speeded up. What an incredible week that was.

Back to where I started. I spoke to a local breeder and when he heard my story, he let me have this adorable Jack Russel puppy at cost. Monica will move into her new townhouse in two weeks. When she does, I will be delivering her housewarming gift...

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NOTE:
This really is a first draft and needs lots of editing. I simply wrote it as it happened. I'd appreciate any comments and / or suggestions for improvement. Obviously the story is true and I can't change the content but it's important that it is expressed in the right way. I really want to do this justice. It was such a wonderful and moving experience for me.

* Monica is not her real name. I changed it to protect her identity.