Homeownership – “Never Pay Another Man’s Mortgage”
Please disregard the lack of political correctness but, this statementwas made during a time that we women weren't quite so sensitive! Seriously, made by Warren Buffet in an interview that I heard back in the 80′s, this comment had a lasting impact on me. If I think about it, back then, I didn’t really even think about the fact that he had said ‘man’ and not ‘man or woman!’ All that said, I took what he said to heart and refused to ever be a tenant. While I realize that everyone cannot afford to be a homeowner, that sometimes relocation is temporary and a home purchase would not make sense.
However, I made a commitment to never be a tenant and I have stuck to that commitment! Living in Charlotte for 4 decades, I have always had a thing for homes – I love touring them, I love buying them – I also love building them. Yes, it's a passion for me! I typically don’t stay in one home for longer than 5-6 years and boy, do I have fun shopping for a new one.
My becoming a Realtor® was a dream come true for my hubby – I can get my ‘house shopping’ on with other buyers! Since I became a Realtor®, my ‘average’ tenure in a home has risen! Showing homes to others has also helped me determine what the homes that I have built MUST have in it! I enjoy building equity in the homes that I purchase and watching every improvement that I make to my home, turn into dollars down the road. I guess you could say that I have realized The American Dream numerous times over and am passionate about paying my own mortgage – not someone else’s.
FREEDOM – The little things
One of the things that I have enjoyed since my first home is working in the yard. I can’t imagine living somewhere that feels ‘temporary’ as a rental would feel to me and not being able to enjoy the fruits of my gardening labor. Creating a well-designed landscape plan and seeing it come to fruition over the years during homeownership, is so rewarding. I love having the freedom to create as elaborate or as simple a landscape – another benefit of homeownership.
FREEDOM = RETIREMENT
It seems that the minute we graduate from college, we begin planning our retirement…well, at least we should! Some of us get a later start than others setting those plans in motion, some have no plan at all and others retire early, having had stuck to their plans from the very beginning. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries this month and see that when it comes to what homeownership means to us, this is the most common thread for us all. For me, a savvy investor diversifies – stocks, bonds, IRAs, etc. I feel strongly, however, that investing in the roof over our heads is critical to building wealth. As a Realtor®, I am so very fortunate to have the a deeper knowledge of our business – investing in real estate for me (and my colleagues) is second nature and I will forever be grateful for the ability to be a homeowner…and one day, a retiree!
FAMILY
Besides the commitment to always only pay my own mortgages, I have to say that starting my family and raising my boys in our own home was so important to me. Both of my boys were huge sports fans so they each thoroughly enjoyed helping decorate their rooms with paint, posters, memorabilia and more – in their team’s colors.
My oldest was a huge Charlotte Hornet’s fan – his walls were teal and purple…with black trim! Oh, can you hear what the landlord would have said about that one?! To this day, he still remembers that room – it brings back fond memories that make us all smile.
Of course, there’s so much more to celebrating family when it comes to homeownership than painting rooms! I think of the memories that we created – the boys learning how to ride their bikes on our driveway, the Gorilla basketball goal that we set in concrete on our driveway, the firepit in the backyard where we roasted S’mores and talked past the boys’ bedtimes…the list goes on and on.
IN A NUTSHELL
These are but a few of the reasons that I celebrate homeownership. I am so thankful to Warren Buffet for his words that resonated so loudly with me that I have followed them my entire adult life – not just for the home in which I reside but, investment property that is part of our retirement plan. Next up – a tiny house at the lake!
© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | Homeownership – Never Pay Another Man’s Mortgage
Originally posted at http://athomescharlotte.com/realestate/home-buyers-guide/homeownership-never-pay-another-mans-mortgage/
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