09/18/2026
⚠️ LONG POST ALERT — but please read this one in its entirety. There’s a side of real estate that doesn’t always make the highlight reel, and I think it’s worth talking about.
JUST TERMINATED.
You see the JUST CLOSED posts.
The keys. The closing tables. The happy buyers. The congratulations.
But what you don’t always see are the transactions that never make it to the closing table.
This week, instead of preparing for another closing, I was processing a termination.
And THIS is the side of real estate that doesn’t always make the highlight reel.
This particular journey had been a long one. There was a lot of time, patience, communication, coordination and work behind the scenes before we ever reached the point of going under contract.
In May, we found a home, negotiated a great deal and went under contract.
That contract was ultimately terminated.
We regrouped, took some time and eventually started the process again.
Another opportunity came along. Another contract was negotiated. And once again, I went to work representing my client and doing everything within my role to help move the transaction toward the closing table.
Then came everything that happens after a contract is signed; the lender process, inspections, appraisal, paperwork, appointments, communication, follow-ups, problem-solving and all of the moving pieces most consumers never see.
We got extremely close to the finish line.
And then...
the buyer ultimately decided not to proceed.
Did it sting? Absolutely.
Not because a buyer should ever feel obligated to purchase a home simply because their REALTOR has invested time and resources into the process. They shouldn’t.
It stung because when you’ve invested a significant amount of time, work and energy into a transaction and it doesn’t close, there is no paycheck waiting at the end of it.
And that’s something I think more consumers should understand about this business.
REALTORS generally don’t get paid for the hours we work. Our compensation is typically earned when a transaction successfully closes.
There’s no biweekly paycheck for the showings.
No hourly pay for researching properties, writing offers, negotiating contracts, attending inspections and walkthroughs, coordinating with lenders, attorneys and builders, answering calls and texts, solving problems, driving from property to property or working after traditional business hours.
A transaction can require weeks or months (or years in this case) of work and still result in $0 in commission if it never closes.
Sometimes agents may even choose to absorb certain business or transaction-related expenses along the way.
So when you see a REALTOR’s compensation associated with a successfully closed transaction, remember:
You’re seeing the transaction that made it to the closing table.
What you don’t see are all the hours that weren’t compensated.
The contracts that terminated.
The clients who never purchased.
The appointments that didn’t result in a sale.
The gas and mileage.
The MLS and association dues.
The marketing, technology and other business expenses.
The taxes.
The evenings and weekends.
And all the work that happens behind the scenes with absolutely no guarantee of a paycheck.
I started this month expecting four closings.
Three made it to the closing table. One didn’t.
Was I disappointed? Of course.
But that’s real estate.
You can work hard, advocate for your client, negotiate, communicate, follow up, solve problems and do everything within your control and the transaction still may not close.
And regardless of how much time or money I’ve invested, I will never pressure a client into purchasing a home simply because I want a transaction to close.
My responsibility is to represent my client’s interests, educate them, provide guidance and help them make informed decisions. The ultimate decision about whether to move forward belongs to them.
So I’ll take the lessons from this one, make whatever adjustments I need to make in my business, and keep moving forward.
I helped three families cross the finish line this month, and the clients I have under contract now, and the future clients who will trust me to represent them, deserve that same energy, attention and level of service.
So no, this week there won’t be another JUST CLOSED post.
This one is...
JUST TERMINATED.
And that’s real estate too.
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Latoya Dillard, NC/SC Broker/REALTOR®
Bloom Realty
📱 (803) 524-6886
📧 [email protected]
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