At just over 14,000 feet, Rainier is iconic in that many world-class climbers practice on it to

prepare themselves for the really big ones like Mount Everest. Since I'm an amateur

climber, I relied on a professional guide to help me up and down the mountain.

Climbing a mountain isn't easy. Getting to the top is an exhilarating and rewarding

accomplishment - and humbling, too. As I trudged up and down the mountain over

three days, I had a lot of time to think, and I was struck by some interesting parallels

Prepare Well

You don't just get up one day and decide to climb the mountain. It requires weeks

and months of conditioning to prepare for the incredible test of strength and

stamina the mountain demands. It also means planning: What gear should I take?

What weather conditions should I prepare for? How much weight can I carry and

for how long? How much of that awful carb gel will I need? 

                                    The application here to real estate is obvious:

 Embrace a "Slow and Steady" Mindset

Climbing Mount Rainier was a three-day experience. Day one is getting to base

camp at Camp Muir, and that's a four-hour hike to a bunkhouse at about 10,000

feet. Day two is on-snow training. You are taught how to stop yourself in the event

of a fall, how to "read" the snow, and how to work with your group on a rope. Day

two-and-a-half and day three are devoted to the ascent. It starts around midnight,

to the summit in about eight or nine hours, then, the hard part, back down in

about six hours. It requires a great deal of stamina, careful pacing, and a surprising

The housing market these days also demands stamina, pacing and patience. The

combination of economic variables and market conditions requires a thoughtful

Use the Best Guide

As proud as I was to get to the top of Mount Rainier, I absolutely could not have

done it without our experienced guides. The best guides have a combination of

expertise, enthusiasm and keen judgment earned over many years. Being familiar

with all the pitfalls, they helped us avoid big mistakes. They prepared us, instructed

us, managed our expectations, and boosted us when we were tired and discouraged.

conditions, which in the mountains can literally mean life or death. The best guides

track the weather scientifically, but they also use their intuition. When they say go,

you go. And when they say the timing isn't right, you stay put.

help you navigate some tough and tricky terrain. They've got what it takes to lead

you to the top of the mountain - and they'll be there with you every step of the way.

So while the parallels of mountain climbing and real estate aren't always obvious,

it's nice to know that a rewarding accomplishment can be achieved in both.