If yours is like most homes, you will have at least two people in your household watching the Super Bowl this Sunday. The Super Bowl is unquestionably the most-watched event in the United States, and this year will be no exception. In fact, the price of a Super Bowl commercial hit a new record in 2022, as companies paid $7 million for a 30-second ad slot, anticipating more eyeballs than ever.
What I find the most fascinating about Super Bowl Sunday is that each spectator enjoys different things about the day. There are those who focus on feasting and socializing. Some will find ways to gamble about every facet of the game. Many will revel at the halftime show and all its performers. Of course, we can’t forget those who obsess about the commercials. Finally, some will simply watch the game for the intense competition.
Every team comes with its own competitive advantage; some are exceptional at creating plays and raking-up points (offense), while others excel at guarding the line and forcing opponent turnovers (defense). It’s hard to know for sure which is a more considerable advantage.
The same might be pondered when it comes to the financial management of a home. Which is better – someone who is conservative and protects themselves from unforeseen expenditures and losses (defense) or someone more aggressive, looking to capitalize on financial opportunities and a greater return (offense)?!
So what do I mean by offense and defense when it comes to homeownership? Throughout my years in this industry, it’s remarkable to see how much “psychology” goes into the decisions that people make. The conservative individuals are extremely passive about doing anything to change the dynamics of their situation. They have budgeted for their current circumstances, and they are more focused on defending and deflecting unforeseen expenditures that were otherwise not accounted for.
Whereas the offensive and more aggressive personalities continuously look for opportunities to capitalize on real-time conditions to gain an advantage. I have clients who check in with me continually about any market changes or improvements that can benefit their short-term or long-term financial situation. They call me for consultations about non-mortgage-related matters, such as when their income changes or when they need to spend outside of their regular budget, just to get any innovative strategies and suggestions.
So many homeowners stood on the sidelines during the pandemic when rates dropped to historical lows. They rationalized that there was too much risk of the unknown with hidden fees, loan challenges, and the like. They were comfortable with their outlays and afraid of the unknown. Some gave up looking to buy a house because home prices were rising too quickly, and they didn’t want to “overpay” or assumed a market crash was imminent.
In sports, you ideally need a good mix of both offense and defense. If you don’t score any points, it doesn’t matter that you prevent the other team from scoring either. If you can’t block and defend against the opponent, it won’t matter that you can put up your own points. In real estate, just as in athletics, you need a good head coach to help you become a better-balanced individual to secure a win!
Shout out and happy birthday to Chaim Blau, Jason Blumstein, Ari Fuchs, Shoval Gur-Aryeh, Harvey Heino, Ari Hirsch, Daniel Hoffman, Bruce Kessler, Chaviva Weinblut, and Shanna Wolf. A special belated birthday shout-out to Shimmy Stein.
Shmuel Shayowitz (NMLS#19871) is President and Chief Lending Officer at Approved Funding, a privately held local mortgage banker and direct lender. Approved Funding is a mortgage company offering competitive interest rates as well as specialty niche programs on all types of Residential and Commercial properties. Shmuel has over 20 years of industry experience, including licenses and certifications as a certified mortgage underwriter, residential review appraiser, licensed real estate agent, and direct FHA specialized underwriter. He can be reached via email at [email protected].
