I just spent three weeks working with buyers who kept telling me they were "serious" and "motivated." Found them the perfect house—updated kitchen, great schools, exactly what they wanted. They told me to write the offer at $127,000 under asking. On a house that was already priced competitively. I explained comps. I showed them recent sales. I pulled up the appraisal data. They nodded along and said, "Just submit it and see what happens." What happened was the listing agent laughed out loud on the phone. Not a chuckle—a full belly laugh. Then she texted me "lol" which somehow felt worse. The sellers didn't even counter. Just a flat rejection. My buyers were genuinely shocked. SHOCKED. They asked if we should submit again with better terms, like maybe a flexible closing date would make up for the six-figure gap. I'm now on week four with them, and yesterday they found another house they love. Their strategy? "Let's go even lower this time since the market is shifting." The market is not shifting. I am shifting—toward early retirement.