How did you buy your house?

When my husband and I first got married he had already owned his own Clearview Co-op.  It was a great apartment.  We were on the lower level and we renovated it to the hilt.  When we had our first son, it was so easy to maintain.  I cleaned my house 1,2,3.  At that time I was a full time stay at home mom.  When my second child made an appearance into our lives - all h*ll broke lose.  This one more person made our great little apartment feel like the walls closed in on us.  I would cry at the disorder of my house.  I had not one more place to put a thing.  It was so cramped in our little apartment that it was not uncommon for me to make it regular practice to  take those famous "mommy showers" - With the door open, because without fail as soon as I got into the shower the tribal Indians would start pounding on the door that "I NEED to get in there, NOW!"  So for 7 years, my total showering time was about 22 minutes.  I was careful to never exceed the one minute "mommy shower".

Christmas time was always a hard time for me.  I would have to take part of my couch (we had a sectional for this reason) and put one end, in my bedroom.  I would then set up my tree and - sweat.  I would sweat from the day that my tree went up until the day that my house was back in order.  There would be nights that I would wake up to just stare at the COUCH that was sitting in my room.  There was no order and I could no longer take it.  So we decided to sell our much loved co-op to move into a bigger home.  In 2000, we rented for two years.  I did not know anything about the real estate market and the thought of buying a home was so overwhelming.  Where do I start?  How much could I afford?  Who do I trust?  What do I do? 

In late 2000, I went and got my real estate license.  I figured, I would be at a good advantage to view homes and learn what to do.  My first year of Real Estate - I found nothing.  I still did not know if I could afford a home.  So I waited and I watched  as the prices of the homes went up and up.  I resolved to myself that my husband and I would never buy a home and the road was getting longer and longer and steeper.  But, I kept saving and saving and the dream kept getting further and further away.  I was frustrated -   

One day I went to show a home to buyer customers.  This home was listed by another real estate company so I made the appointments and met my customers at the house.  When I pulled up to this "home"- something came over me.  I don't know how to explain it.  I was so excited to show this home to my "buyers".  The homeowner did not speak English and she was an elderly lady - so in my best "fake" Italian accent - I assured her she could relax and I will show the house.  I fell in love with this home.  So, while my buyers and I walked through this home, I waited to see their reaction.  Did they like it?  Do they want to buy this home?  It was really the first time that I did not want a buyer to buy a home.  After we viewed the home, I left the house with them and asked them their thoughts.  They were hesitant and gave me a facial "nahhh " expression.  I told them "I actually like this home, I am thinking about buy this home for myself - so here is the thing - its 4:00 now - how about you think about it and call me by 11am tomorrow.  I will wait for your call.  If you want the house - its yours, if not - I am buying it"  (Sounds like a sales pitch, huh?).  It wasn't.

The next day - I called them and they declined on the house.  WOOHOO!  I called the agent on it - told him I have an offer and we ironed out a few things and BINGO - I got the house! Called my mortgage broker, got some info, gave some info and its a done deal. 

So I went home and told my husband!

Yup, my husband had no idea He had not a clue!  I called the agent back later that day, asked if I could show it to my husband and do an inspection and within 2 months we closed. 

How about you?  What happend when you bought your first home?  Any funny stories?

Comments

[Charleston real estate blog]

Christine, it wasn't my first house but that's how I found my current one, and like you, I gave the client the first refusal. My wife doesn't like to move as often as I do but when you're in real estate, you see so many nice homes that once in a while, you come home and say, "I want to show you a house I just saw" and the next thing you know, you're packing.

[Christine]

LOL Howard - I am with your wife - I hate to move and after all the work we have done in this home and the work that I still have to do, the thought of moving puts me in a tizzy. My husband would like bigger property, but I keep knocking that out of the park by reminding him that we would have to re do everything all over again - and he is a contractor - so the thought of him having to work again when he gets home from work just kills him. So, for now I am staying. But like you - I have seen a ton of homes that I LOVE - but to move - ugh.. I think I would rather have a mack truck run me over...

[Gena Riede]

Great post. My first time here ... if I can't buy first and then sell and move...I don't want to. With a home office it would be maddening. I usually ask my sellers to consider going on an extended vacation while I sell their house and in the fast moving market of not so long ago, I could sell their home almost before they unpacked at their destination. Those were the days!

[Christine]

Gena - Aww Your first time here? Hoped you enjoyed it. I have been reading you via feedreader. I LOVE my feedreader!..
Hope to see you areound more - take care!