My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Seuss during our journey as first time homebuyers. We could not be happier with the outcome, largely due to the great help from Lauren. As first time homebuyers, the entire process of searching for and purchasing a home was an extremely stressful and overwhelming thought for us. Lauren immediately eased that stress and turned it into hope and excitement. She made herself available via text, call, email and in-person at all times, even during unforeseen events in which she was given short notice. Lauren worked around the clock to accommodate to both of our schedules and always did so with a smile and positive energy. She made the home buying process fun and exciting. Lauren was patient, kind and personable throughout the entire process, answering our never-ending questions while affirming any and all of our ideas, concerns and eagerness to learn. Lauren advocated for us from the day we met her until the day we got our keys (and still to this day). We have, and will continue to, refer all of our local friends and family to Lauren and the team. We will continue to use Lauren in any future home endeavors. We are forever grateful for her help and we are so happy with our new La Quinta home!

"Home" eventually became a distant thing that belonged to other people, something other folk enjoyed, an experience I once had but was maybe never going to happen again, like a trip to that diving island in Fiji I'd never go to again, even though I loved it, or that place in London I should have kept, but didn't, and at times searching for where "Home" might be. I would throw darts against a map pinned on the wall, wondering if they'd stick onto someplace I never thought about and like magic "Home" would happen again. But it didn't.

My besties who have a place in Palm Desert (a place I felt calm and very creative in) wanted me to stick the dart there and, never really wholly engaging in the idea, eventually I agreed to meet their friend Betsy Justice and, after much discussion, we went on a journey together. A road trip really. I rode shotgun with her as she took me on adventures of the idea of "Home" and what it might look like in the many ways that others see as "Home" and many times I just knew there wasn't enough gas in the world to get me there and just let her drive that car alongside a stubborn critter that just didn't believe you could actually get anywhere anymore.

And then at times I realized it was she who was sitting shotgun beside me and taking in the mysterious WTF of what even I didn't know what it was I was looking for. And eventually it shapeshifted into understanding.

And here's the thing:

The world is populated with people who call themselves "Real Estate Agents" and that's just fine. It's also populated, though in a lesser degree, with people who ride shotgun with your dreams, even though you don't even think your dream lives out there in the world anymore, and that simple strong powerful energy of someone just wanting you to find the thing you want, or don't even know you want, but riding shotgun with you in an adventure to find the place - The Place - that make your heart sing, that makes you feel safe, that makes you feel the world is actually alright - is rare and extremely special.

I'm a Home Owner now. Not a Property Owner. Not a House Owner. I got "Home". I have keys in my hand. They're mine.

Thank you Betsy Justice, for riding shotgun with me or me riding with you, who gives a crap.

We got me there. We got me Home.