I recently worked with a local couple, the Freeses, to sell their first house. But this wasn’t your typical “starter home,” bought with the intention of outgrowing and selling it within a few years.

No — the Freeses built their home in 1967 and lived in it for nearly 60 years.

Incredible, don’t you think? That sort of commitment to a house, a neighborhood, a city… It’s unheard of these days.

As a realtor here in Festus, it’s stories like these that make me feel sentimental. I had the privilege of listening to so many of the Freeses’ memories — the meals cooked, parties hosted, adventures planned, and even mistakes made while living in their first home. By the time we sold the house, I felt like I’d truly seen them and the life they built together.

Opportunities to connect like this really make you think. Each one of us experiences ups and downs, creating lifelong memories that either bolster or haunt us. We need the lows to appreciate the highs, right? The Freeses are well acquainted with both, and it was an honor to work with them.

Moreover, when I marketed their property, I let my daughter Royal host the video tour. I felt that family genuinely matters to the Freeses and that theirs had defined their home for decades. That video was viewed almost 100,000 times because — you can feel it. You can feel how much love has lived in this house.

Sitting next to the Freeses on closing day — which happened to be their 71st wedding anniversary — I looked across the table and thought about the house’s new owners. They, too, will make lifelong memories with their loved ones under that roof. It made the world feel very big and very small at the same time.

No matter what season of life you’re in, your home is a place to be who you are, to share in joy, sadness, and everything in between. It’s an opportunity to take ownership of a place and invest in it. To bless Thanksgiving dinner, pour over your child’s math homework, and have candid conversations with friends.

Having a familiar place to call your own unlocks a lifetime of memories. No one knows that better than the Freeses.

If you’re looking to sell (or buy) a home in Festus, I hope to be part of that chapter, opening the door to whatever is next. It’s such a privilege to play a role in your story.