My First Real Estate Experience - Buying a Home

In our early twenties,  my husband and I made the impulsive decision to purchase a newly built home located in an established neighborhood, in a western suburb of Chicago.  We had saved the twenty percent required for the down payment.

What We Saw When We Made Our Decision to Purchase

• Golden opportunity
• Beautiful Brand new home nestled in an old established neighborhood
• Home within walking distance to the train station
• Mature trees
• Hardwood floors that were sanded and finished
• Great floor plan and just the right square footage

 Why The Builder Agreed To Sell Us The Home For Less Than The Asking Price

•  Interior walls of the home were unfinished and needed primer and paint
• Wood windows were unfinished
• Millwork and Interior doors were unfinished
• Basement was unfinished
• Detached garage was not built
• Grass and shrubbery were missing
• Fence was not built
• There was no refrigerator in the kitchen and no washer or dryer

My Dad's Reaction To  Our Plan To Purchase a House

We called my dad, a real estate attorney, to share our excitement and have him look at the builder's contract.  To this day, I can remember every word my dad said to us.  "You're doing what?  I hope you have a minimum of  fifteen grand to finish that house!"  We were undaunted. We were certain we could complete the work ourselves, with the exception of building the garage and finishing the basement.

What We Learned

Daddy knew best!  It took more time and money than we anticipated, BUT we made certain that it cost less than my dad anticipated.

We learned that it's difficult to finish out the interior of a house when you are working full time.

We learned how to finish raw wood, paint, build scaffolding, hang wallpaper, build a fence, landscape a yard, upholster furniture and make draperies. By the end of the first year, we completed our projects.  During that year, family members shared words of wisdom, time, skills and encouragement. It was a year filled with challenges and lots of fun.

We learned that is possible to accomplish in life what you set out to do, with commitment and a positive attitude.  In the process, we created treasured memories.

What I Share With First Time Home Buyers

Home ownership is an enormous responsibility that requires attention, time, and money.  It's also about putting down roots and creating memories.