Have you ever noticed that if someone, on the way to your favorite restaurant, says: “We’ll never find parking!”, sure enough you end up driving around the block, then neighborhood, then zip code looking for a spot?

I’m a firm believer in parking karma, which must begin the moment you decide to drive anywhere. You have to visualize your parking space in the right place at the right time, and avoid all negativity. (I also cross both sets of my fingers on both hands at the same time, but that can be a bit dangerous.) Sure enough, just as you arrive at your destination, you see some guy coming out of the restaurant and step to his car right in front. Rock star parking!

I think this same lesson can apply to real estate. As soon as the decision is made to buy a home, it is so important to visualize what you’re looking for. This process will help you clarify what is most important in a new home, and to allow you to move toward that goal. Your ability to communicate this vision to your Realtor will provide them a clear framework from which to build a tailored search profile.

Try to avoid the defeatist belief that you will “never find a home” in your price range or neighborhood of choice. This kind of real estate market in San Francisco can offer exceptional opportunities for buyers previously priced out of the market, so stay positive and start visualizing your new home!

The same goes for selling. If you focus on the benefits of your home and address anything that you think will be a concern for a prospective buyer, then visualize the right buyer finding your property at just the right time, you will have a far better experience (and outcome) than if you only see the negative. This holds true whether you are facing a difficult market or the boom times are here again.

Staying positive through challenging times is difficult, but will prove to be even more important than when properties sell easily. I’ve seen ups and downs, but have been able to maintain an upbeat, positive attitude throughout it all. You can too!