A Leap of Faith

Oftentimes, I write these blogs as an informative piece of “content” to keep people up to date on my latest thoughts or feelings about the market. Maybe I’ll share an interesting fact or two about the area I serve. And sometimes, let’s be honest — it’s just pure fluff to have something out there.

But today’s blog is different. This one’s about a leap of faith — and frankly, what I believe was a God-inspired phone call. It’s about family, legacy, and the memories that are created on a simple piece of land in a place called Wellsville, Kansas.

The Real Estate Grind

I’ll be honest with everyone — real estate is not easy. Anyone who says otherwise, I’d like to trade places with them for a day.

Most days, I spend hours calling For Sale By Owners — not trying to list their house, but to offer help, earn trust, and maybe gain a few referrals along the way. Usually, these are homes anywhere from $150K to $750K.

I typically don’t go above that range because, for some weird reason, I’ve always believed folks in the luxury market wouldn’t “jive” with me — that they probably know ten Realtors they’d call before me anyway. At least that’s the story I tell myself.

Then one day, I saw this house listed For Sale By Owner in a town I’d never been to — listed for $899,000 on 30+ acres. The description mentioned a pond, and being an avid bass fisherman, that caught my attention.

I thought, “Heck, maybe they’ll let me come out and fish their pond. Maybe I’ll make some friends, maybe I’ll help them sell their house — and maybe I’ll catch some big ol’ bass while I’m at it.”

So I called.

The Call That Changed Everything

Usually people don’t pick up. But after two rings, a woman answered.

I wish I could recall word-for-word what was said, but I remember introducing myself, mentioning I was calling about the house, and she immediately asked why my number showed up as California.

I joked that I wasn’t trying to sell her an extended car warranty, which got a good laugh. I explained I wasn’t calling to list her home — I just wanted to come fish the pond and see if I could help them however I could.

She said I could come fish whenever I wanted. Then she said, “I like you — and I don’t like anybody.”

Before I could even process that, she told me she and her husband were planning to list soon and wanted me to come meet them as soon as possible.

From that moment, I knew these were my people.

The First Visit

Two days later, I was headed to Wellsville, Kansas. I pulled up a long gravel driveway that led to a beautiful home sitting beside a sparkling pond.

I was so excited I immediately grabbed my fishing pole out of the back of my car. I’d already told them I planned to fish while I waited for them. Unfortunately, I realized I had grabbed the wrong pole — no reel. So I just stood there, staring at that water, dreaming about the big bass swimming underneath.

Meeting Tim and Wendy

When they arrived, I was greeted by Tim and Wendy Monsees — the owners of the property.

From the second we met, it felt like we’d known each other forever.

Tim was tall — a gentle giant with an easygoing presence. Wendy was short, fiery, and sharp as a tack. Together, they were perfectly balanced — the calm and the spark.

I told them about my fishing disappointment, and Tim immediately began talking about the pond — the kinds of fish in it, how he’d stocked it, and the afternoons they’d spent there. You could see in both their eyes what this home meant to them.

Tim beamed as he told stories about the kids swimming in the pond, the fish fries, and lazy evenings spent watching the sunset.

Wendy and Tim walked me through the property, sharing memories at every turn. Wendy did most of the talking at first, but once Tim warmed up, he shared more stories too.

He told me how much he loved their town — how he’d coached baseball for years and built strong friendships through his law practice. Wendy would jump in now and then to keep him from getting too long-winded, and I loved watching the way they interacted.

The big-city lawyer turned country man, and his spitfire farm girl wife. Definitely my people.

A Friendship — and a Listing

A few days later, they decided I’d be the one to represent them in the sale of their home.

For Wendy, the decision seemed easy — she trusted her gut. For Tim, it took more thought. He liked to analyze things.

I was thrilled either way. Whether I got the listing or not, I knew I’d made new friends — and found one heck of a fishing spot to escape to.

Over the next few weeks, as I prepared the listing, I fell in love with that property myself. Every visit made me appreciate it more.

The Pond That Delivered

On the first morning of prep, I took my father-in-law out to fish. And that pond delivered in spades.

Second cast in — boom, he hooked a decent bass. After that, it was game on. Between the two of us, we caught over 30 bass that day and had an absolute blast.

The pond had the perfect balance — just enough sunlight, just enough shade. Steer grazed in the pasture, peacocks called out in the distance. It felt like something out of a movie.

We both agreed it was the best pond we’d ever fished.

I texted Tim and Wendy afterward, telling them how much fun we’d had and how incredible their pond was. They were thrilled that someone else was getting to enjoy it — that new memories were being made there.

Honestly, I don’t think they would’ve wanted it any other way.

Photo Day

Then came the big day: listing photos.

I went all out — the biggest photo and video package I’d ever purchased. Drone shots, cinematic footage, interior and exterior coverage. I wanted every ounce of this place’s magic to show.

I loaded up the car with my wife, my daughter, my father-in-law, and my dad (who was visiting from California). It was going to be an afternoon of work, fun, and fishing.

Everyone was part of the photos and videos, showing what kind of memories could be made there.

My daughter — only three years old and barely experienced at fishing — caught her very first fish that day. The look on her face said it all.

We caught a ton of fish, took amazing photos and videos, and finished the evening with dinner from a local Mexican restaurant by the pond.

It was a day full of love, laughter, and family.

That night, I texted Tim and Wendy to tell them about it. They were thrilled — not just that we’d captured great photos, but that their home was still being used to create new memories.

The Unexpected Turn

As the weeks went on, we talked often — mostly about the listing, but also about life. We laughed, shared jokes, and swapped stories.

Tim mentioned his knee problems and how it had been tough to keep up with maintenance around the property. He was still upbeat, though, looking forward to an upcoming golf trip with friends.

Then, in a blink, everything changed.

While I was visiting family in California, I texted Wendy about a few upcoming showings. She told me Tim was in the ICU with blood clots. She said the recovery road would be long, but she didn’t seem too worried. Wendy never did — she’s one tough cookie.

A few days later, Wendy posted that Tim had passed away.

I was stunned.

Real estate has plenty of twists and turns, but I never saw this one coming. My heart broke for Wendy and her family. Even though I’d only known Tim a short while, I felt a deep sadness. He was a good man — the kind that stays with you.

A Lasting Legacy

I’m writing this blog to pay tribute to Tim Monsees, the man I barely knew but will never forget.

I’m writing this as a reminder of the power of memories — the ones created in the places we call home.

I’m writing this because every interaction matters, no matter how small.

I’m writing this to remind myself not to take time for granted.

But most of all, I’m writing this because a home built by a spitfire country girl and her big-city lawyer husband became a home I will never forget.

Rest in peace, Tim.

Have a look at their beautiful house here:

Link to house