2025: The Year Problem Solving Became the Name of the Game For My Real Estate Career
As a real estate agent in Billings, MT, I get the inevitable question allll the time… “how is real estate going?” This question comes with the gig and one thing about me is that when I get asked this question, I’m not going to sugar coat it. I’m going to be honest with people because the reality of real estate is that it ebbs and flows. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that for the past few years, I’ve been writing a reflection blog post that really sums up how the year went. Sometimes the reflection is more business focused and sometimes it's more personal focused, depending on the theme that the year held.
Years past included:
This year's reflection is a little more business focused because if I’m being honest with you (which is what I’m allll about around here!), it was probably the hardest year in real estate for me… but not for the reasons you might think.
Below I’m sharing the biggest challenge I faced in 2025 as a real estate agent in Billings, MT, the one skill that went into overdrive (and I realized that I actually really enjoy!), the silver lining this year brought, and ultimately what I’m carrying into 2026!
The Biggest Challenge of 2025 as a Real Estate Agent in Billings, MT
Oftentimes when real estate agents talk about things being hard, people assume it’s because of the market.
“Interest rates are high.” “Inventory is low.”
You know… all the typical real estate talk. But none of those things are actually why real estate felt harder for me this year. Don’t get me wrong – some of those things are still very real and something we definitely had to work through.
But honestly, I’m pretty used to those things! We've been dealing with your typical real estate challenges for quite some time, so none of that came as a surprise this year.
But what did come as a surprise? The expectations that buyers and sellers brought into the process – and the emotional weight tied to those expectations.
This year, I found myself having more conversations than ever that started with some version of, “I thought this would be easier,” or “I didn’t expect it to feel like this.”
For the first time in a longggg time, I noticed buyers feeling more frustrated when homes didn’t check every box. On the flipside, sellers felt discouraged when the process didn’t move as quickly or smoothly as they had hoped. And in the middle of it all, there was a lot of mental and emotional energy being carried into every transaction.
What that meant for me as an agent was that my role shifted. This year, I wasn’t just helping clients navigate contracts, inspections, and timelines. I was also helping them navigate uncertainty, disappointment, and the very real stress that comes with making big financial and life decisions during a tough season.
So what I learned is that setting realistic expectations from the very beginning is EVERYTHING!
Clear communication, honest conversations, and grounding people in reality (even when it wasn’t the answer they were hoping for) became the most important part of my job.
And while that work is incredibly meaningful, it’s also heavy. You can’t do it halfway – you have to be fully present, fully engaged, and willing to hold space for people when things feel hard.
That’s what made 2025 challenging in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
The One Skill That Went Into Overdrive
In addition to helping clients set realistic expectations from the very beginning, something else I really had to hone this year was the skill of problem solving.
For whatever reason, 2025 had a theme of crazy things happening during transactions that I really never had to deal with before.
And that meant that problem solving became the name of the game.
Now, I can confidently say that the problem solving part of my brain has always existed. I’ve always been someone who thinks a few steps ahead and likes to be prepared. But this year, that skill went into full overdrive.
More often than not, I found myself constantly running through scenarios in my head – “If this doesn’t work, what’s the backup plan? And if that doesn’t work, what’s plan C?”
Like truly there were many nights I would wake up at 3am thinking about these things. And trust me, I’m not an advocate for your work taking over your life. I’m a big proponent of finding true balance, but this year, it honestly felt like I couldn’t help it.
There were just things constantly happening that were consuming my brain and I kept having the desire to have plans mapped out before my clients even knew there was a potential issue.
(And that’s one of the things that makes a great real estate agent if I do say so myself 😏)
Ultimately, this year I feel like my reaction time got faster, my ability to pivot got sharper, and my instinct to anticipate problems before they happened became second nature.
In a market where things felt unpredictable and emotions ran high, that problem-solving muscle had to work overtime and something I realized is that I actually REALLY enjoy that part of my job!
There’s something deeply satisfying about taking a situation that feels overwhelming or complicated and breaking it down into actionable steps. It feels good being able to say, “Okay, here’s what we can control, here’s what we can’t, and here’s what we’re going to do next.”
That skill didn’t just get stronger this year – it got quicker, more intuitive, and more refined. And I know without a doubt that it’s something I’ll carry with me long after 2025.
The Silver Lining of a Hard Year in Real Estate
Even though this year felt hard, I fully believe that any challenge can positively shape you… if you let it. And that’s exactly how I’ve viewed this year.
In the hard moments, I really tried to remind myself that those moments were only making me better at what I do.
Because when you lean into the skill of problem solving, you learn not to panic when things shift. When you learn how to set expectations early and clearly, you avoid bigger issues later. When you learn how to navigate tough conversations with care and honesty, trust deepens.
And I can honestly say that I experienced ALL of those things this year! So, that’s the silver lining. This year forced me to become sharper, more adaptable, and more intentional.
It stretched skills I already had and strengthened ones I didn’t even realize I was relying on so heavily. And while I wouldn’t necessarily wish a “hard year” on anyone, I do believe there’s value in what comes from it.
What 2025 Taught Me (and What I’m Carrying Into 2026)
Overall, 2025 taught me a lot, especially when it comes to the real estate side of things. The big ones being:
✔️ expectation-setting with clients is non-negotiable right from the get go
✔️ problem solving is a skill worth continuously honing
✔️ growth doesn’t always feel good while it’s happening
But even more than that, this year reminded me that having boundaries and really working hard to create balance for your personal life is HUGE.
Anyone that knows me knows that I deeply value the relationships in my life and I always try really hard to make sure I’m carving out plenty of time to just be… me. Kelley.
The friend. The wife (because let’s not forget I planned a whole freaking elopement to Italy this year!!). The bonus mom. The daughter. The sister.
Not just the real estate agent in Billings.
Even though I had some really amazing experiences this year personally, I’m ending the year realizing – for the first time in a longggg time – just how much mental space real estate occupied for most of 2025.
And while a certain level of that is normal (after all, I genuinely love what I do), I also know it’s possible to be deeply committed to your work without feeling like it’s taking over your entire life.
So as we head into 2026, I’m carrying that awareness with me and making it a priority to find more balance so that I can fully unplug, be present, and protect my energy a little more intentionally.
At the same time, I’m also carrying everything 2025 gave me: stronger problem-solving skills, sharper instincts, clearer boundaries, and a deeper understanding of how to guide people through hard seasons with confidence and care.
Overall, if there’s one thing this year reinforced, it’s that hard seasons don’t define you, they refine you. And I’m truly proud of what this year shaped me into!
I’m looking forward to all the things that 2026 brings and if you happen to have buying or selling in Billings on your brain for the new year, I’d love to connect – CLICK HERE to reach out when the time feels right! 🥰
And if you don’t have plans to buy or sell in 2026, but want to stay up to date with all things home ownership and real estate talk, our email list is the place to be.
Every week I pop into your inbox with a new blog post or market update so you have all the real estate resources you may need (in addition to local love for Billings, MT because I’m allll about the community we have here!).
Here’s to the new year. 🎉