My First Real Estate Experience Felt Like I Signed my Life Away!

My First Real Estate Experience Felt Like I Signed my Life Away!

My first real estate experience took place long before I even thought of the possibility of one day becoming a real estate agent.  In 1991, my husband and I were moving to a small town in Texas right along the Mexican border and we decided to buy our first home.

This was long before cell phones and the Internet became a common household fixtures so there was no looking online for homes for sale.  We made an appointment with a nice real estate lady who had previously helped one of my husband's collegues - I now know that this is called a referral and it's the best compliment a happy customer can make!  

I don't remember too many of the details but she took us under her wings and guided us through the home buying process including obtaining a mortgage and taking us on home showings according to our ideas of what we wanted in our first home.

We may have looked at five or six or even more homes, again, after all that time, I don't even remember the actual first time we set foot into the home we finally purchased.  However, one particular home did stand out from the rest, not because it was exceptional in style and features but because it was tenant-occupied. 

This was the first time, I experienced first-hand that homes occupied with tenants who are not cooperative are going to be tough showing and selling.  A few young guys were living in this particular home and I remember it being cluttered and unkept, clothing strewn on the floor, one room couldn't be viewed at all because someone was still in bed or taking a shower during the scheduled showing time.  Needless to say, we didn't make an offer on one.

This particular tenant-occupied home may have been one of the reasons though, why we picked the home we did finally make an offer on.   Everything went well with the process until the VA inspector would not pass the roof, apparently, it had sustained some damage from a hail storm - not uncommon in Texas - and the hail had indented the shingles.  A hit a little snag along the way but our Realtor helped getting us back on track and we lucked out.  The seller's insurance covered the damage and our new home got a new roof before closing!

All in all, my first real estate experience was a positive one.  Nevertheless, when it came to closing time and we had to sign the loan and closing documents, it felt like I was signing my life away!  The sales price was $56,000 and I had never spent that much money in my life and I had never been in debt!  Now, I always remember that feeling when I go to closings with any of my buyers and especially first time home buyers! 

As I said, I don't remember too many of the details of the transaction such as inspections, appraisal, survey, paperwork, setting up utilities and all the many details which home buyers often don't realize need to be done.  Our Realtor was doing a great job for us! 

After the sale was done, we received a monthly home magazine from her full with topics and information around the home.  I definitely appreciated getting this magazine and was looking forward to each new issue - she stayed in touch.  We lived in our first home for a little more than four years before it was time to move on again.  Although I was unaware of the value of repeat business then, guess who we called when we were getting to list our home for sale!

Whether you are looking for your first home or your last home, please let me help you in your home buying process.  Call me at 352-584-7441 or email me and for information about homes for sale in Hernando County, Florida, including Spring Hill visit my website at www.SilviaDukes.com.

My First Real Estate Experience Felt Like I Signed my Life Away!

Photo Credit:  Key with House by digitalart, freedigitalphotos.net