A few months ago, my family and I were at the Iowa State Fair, and later we caught the Forest Frank concert. That wasn’t just a fun night out — it was one of those moments that settles in your chest and stays there. Smiles, laughter, spontaneous dancing, the kind that only happens when you’re with people you love and you’re fully present.
For me, that memory isn’t separate from the idea of home. It is part of what home means.
Sure, there are moments that take place inside the four walls — reading with the kids, playing chess on a quiet evening, hockey practices, skiing together, boat rides on a warm day — those everyday moments are just as powerful. They don’t have to be big or staged. They’re simply life happening, unfiltered and meaningful.
I’ve always believed that a house is just a structure. A home is where those moments unfold, where the ordinary becomes unforgettable. The memory of a concert or a fair or laughing over something silly in the car — that’s what sticks. Those are the moments we tell stories about. Those are the ones we share with friends, or look back on and smile about years later.
That’s part of why I do what I do.
As a realtor, I get to walk alongside families at some of their most significant transitions. I help them find places where their memories will live — the quiet Saturdays, the unexpected evenings under the stars, the first steps, the homework sessions, the late-night conversations in a living room that feels like belonging.
I don’t take that lightly. Helping someone find a home isn’t just about square footage or market trends. It’s about understanding what matters most to the people inside — the rhythms of their days, the way they choose to spend their time, the backdrop they want to their lives.
Some of my best memories happen at home: reading with the kids on the couch, intense games of chess that end in laughter, hockey scrimmages in the yard, skiing up a hill just because we can, boat days where time seems to stretch out forever. These are the moments that shape us. These are the moments a home holds.
And I enjoy connecting with people in that context — not just as clients, but as families making decisions that will ripple through their lives. There’s something deeply rewarding about helping someone find a home where their next chapter begins. A house may be listed on the market, but a home is where life happens.
That’s the part I care about most — and it’s the part that makes every step of this job meaningful. Not just the sale, but the story that continues long after.
Ornell Group Real Estate | Tim Ornell
Northern Suburbs Luxury & Waterfront Specialist
Real Brokerage | Luxury Division
Institute for Luxury Home Marketing – GUILD Certified
$200M+ Sold | 200+ Transactions
[email protected] | ornellgroup.com
