In a world obsessed with measuring success via dollars, one thing that truly delivers a sense of accomplishment more than anything I've witnessed is when someone buys a home.

Recently I observed an extremely successful, smart, hard-working individual at a pre-closing walk-through in the home she was buying. She was in her 60's with grown children, had worked her entire life, starting as a kid on her family's farm and had dedicated most of her life to her family and career. On this day I observed her intense sense of accomplishment. She sat down in the chair in the office and smiled broadly observing the view.

This home represented a real, tangible reward she had worked so hard for. Yes, this is a material item, but I'd argue that homes go well beyond being a material possession. They act as a refuge from a pretty crazy world, a hug at the end of a long day, a canvas for life and the creation of memories. Homes fuel the soul. They often do represent a reward for hard work, sacrifice, long hours, etc.

We can reward ourselves in multiple ways. A home is the reward that keeps on giving. Our price-per-square-foot-obsessed planet should at least acknowledge the enjoyment-and-achievement-per-square-foot measurement equally.

Another reminder of the importance of what real estate agents help facilitate in the lives of humans.