Who's too young to buy a home?

By
Real Estate Agent with Nest Ahead

From a very young age, real estate has always fascinated me.  The character and diversity of homes and the allure of the hunt to find the perfect one has always been a welcome challenge.  Just out of high school, I was barely 19 when I purchased my first home.  My first real estate agent was Tami Thompson with RE/MAX out of Abilene, Texas.  (Don't feel bad, I wouldn't have known where Abilene was either if I hadn't been born there.)  Tami was amazing.  She went on the hunt with me, answered countless questions and mainly just made herself available whenever I needed her.  However, I think the most important quality that Tami possessed was that she took me seriously.  Rather than dismissing me for more important clients with deeper pockets, she bragged that I was her youngest client ever.  Who sells houses to 19 year olds anyway?  Well, Tami did, and with a smile to boot!  She made my home purchase a smooth reality.

Now before you jump to conclusions, I know that age discrimination is not allowed.  The moral of the story here is that agents should treat all of their clients with the same level of respect, period.  

Fast forward twenty years and ironically, RE/MAX Grand out of Katy, Texas is now my broker.  I went from a consumer/home buyer with a career in insurance to being a "Tami", and I live and work in the Greater West Houston Area.  As an agent, I hope to always model her endless energy, amazing spirit and integrity and make every experience with my own clients as fond of a memory as I have regarding my own first home purchase.  

Posted by

Sherry McNabb, REALTOR®

RE/MAX Grand
713.632.4276 Direct
sherry@jonathanmcnabbrealtor.com
http://jonathanmcnabbrealtor.com


If you plan on selling your home and/or buying a new one, I can help. Just send me an email or give me a call. Please remember, the greatest compliment you can give me is a referral to your friends, family or co-workers. I am never too busy for your referrals.

Disclaimer: E-mails sent or received shall neither constitute acceptance of conducting transactions via electronic means nor create a binding contract until and unless a written contract is signed by all parties.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential. It may also be protected from disclosure or be a privileged work product or proprietary information. This information is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this message and you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution (other than to the addressee(s), copying or taking of any action because of this information is strictly prohibited.




Comments (51)

Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

19?! That's incredible - your story is fantastic. Welcome to Active Rain - I can tell you have a lot to share!

Jul 19, 2016 01:04 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Wayne and Jean Marie!

Jul 19, 2016 02:58 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Love your post!  And it is great that you found inspiration in one of your earliest adult memories and continued on in her footsteps!  Such a great story, thank you for sharing.

Jul 19, 2016 01:17 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Karen, Tami is still with RE/MAX and now a broker associate with RE/MAX Coastal Properties located in Destin, Florida.  She is truly inspiring!

Jul 19, 2016 02:58 AM
John Meussner
Mason-McDuffie Mortgage, Conventional Loans, Jumbo Loans, FHA, 203(k), USDA, VA, - Walnut Creek, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Walnut Creek, CA 484-680-4852

Welcome to the rain, Sherry - great story and congrats on your young success!  Age has got nothing on determination, and nice shout out to the real estate pro that helped make it happen!

Jul 19, 2016 02:30 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you John! 

Jul 19, 2016 02:51 AM
Mery Fernandez Empire Network Realty Luxury Brokerage
Empire Network Realty INC. - Orlando, FL
The Rise of An Empire, Let's Build Yours!

Hi Sherry! Welcome to the world of Activerain, may your blogging  create a whole new chapter in your Real Estate Career.

Jul 19, 2016 02:33 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Mery!

Jul 19, 2016 02:50 AM
Ingrid Pierson
HomeTown Realtors - Auburn, CA
Making Friends & Helping Friends with Real Estate

Excellent post!  Short to the point and your message is "on target"!  You get 5 stars!  Welcome to Active Rain. Congratulations on joining the team... I know your experience will keep you in tune with your buyers... and keep you from making assumptions...

Jul 19, 2016 02:51 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Ingrid!  Staying in tune with customers and not making assumptions are definitely two of my goals!

Jul 19, 2016 03:48 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I wasn't much older than you when I bought my first home, Sherry McNabb ... newly married, my wife and I decided it was exactly what we wanted and needed to really get started with our lives.  I totally get your feelings on this, as there's a special feeling and reward gained from helping young buyers accomplish the same goal ...

Gene

Jul 19, 2016 03:26 AM
Sherry McNabb

I agree Gene, and I hope to always give young buyers that same feeling of enpowerment when they become homeowners for the first time.  It is definitley a special feeling.

Jul 19, 2016 03:51 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Sheery McNabb and welcome to the rain where we all help each other and learn from each other.  Great first blog and I will be follong you for more great ones.

Jul 19, 2016 05:15 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Will!

Jul 19, 2016 01:19 PM
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

Great story Sherry and welcome to AR. I bought three homes right out of engineering school with practically no money down. Everyone thought I was nuts. Certainly proved them wrong. 

Jul 19, 2016 09:03 AM
Sherry McNabb

Way to go James and thanks for the welcome!  

Jul 19, 2016 01:20 PM
Victoria Palmer
Victoria Staging & ReDesign - Lake Havasu City, AZ
Home Staging & Redesign

I was 20 when I bought my first home by myself.  I lived in Arkansas.  Funny thing is way back then, if I had tried to buy a home a by myself as a single women just a few years before, I would not have been able to.  Because the state laws were writen that a single women needed a man to sign with her - a father, brother, uncle etc. Times have changed.

Jul 19, 2016 10:21 AM
Sherry McNabb

Victoria, I am so relieved that our clients do not have to worry about that issue today!

Jul 19, 2016 01:25 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Sherry welcome to ActiveRain and congratulations on submitting your first blog on this site.

Jul 19, 2016 11:13 AM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you George!

Jul 19, 2016 01:25 PM
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

Welcome to real estate and ActiveRain. Look forward to reading your blogs. I am from Katy originally and went to Katy-Taylor. Going home to visit soon. Following you now.

Lauren Selinsky

Jul 19, 2016 06:14 PM
Sherry McNabb

Hey Lauren, that's great! My husband and I have a junior at Katy-Taylor now.  I bet you are loving Southern California.  Let me know when you are in town, perhaps we can meet up for coffee.

Jul 20, 2016 04:40 AM
Sharon Kowitz
CRS-SRES-ABR-GRI-E-Pro-CREN Fonville Morisey Cary, NC - Cary, NC
Cary, NC Relocation Specialist ~ Buying or Selling

Thanks for sharing. Welcome to Activerain and congratulations on your first blog!

Jul 21, 2016 03:08 PM
Sherry McNabb

Thank you Sharon!

Jul 21, 2016 03:10 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH Real Estate - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hi, Sherry!  Your post is on this morning's list - Last Week's Favorites on ActiveRain: July 17th - 23rd.  Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Jul 24, 2016 12:24 AM
Sherry McNabb
I love writing almost as much as real estate so making the list for last week's favorites makes me ecstatic! Thank you Patricia!
Jul 24, 2016 05:05 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Realty Center - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I can see why Patricia chose your post to highlight this week...well done!

Jul 24, 2016 12:35 AM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you so much Kristin! I really enjoyed writing the article because my first home purchase was such a positive experience for me due to my wonderful RE/MAX agent. :)
Jul 24, 2016 04:56 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Good for you for knowing that there's no place for stereotyping in real estate. I predict astounding success for you as an agent! 

Jul 24, 2016 04:53 AM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you Marte! I certainly appreciate your prediction, and wish you all the best as well.
Jul 24, 2016 05:02 AM
Dan Lopez
LEGENDS REALTY - Lake Mary, FL

Great post Sherry McNabb . I was in my early twenties before I started the home buying process, and had a great agent to boot. Twenty years later, and I find myself encouraging my two daughters not to rent, but to buy their first home, even though none of their friends had yet. Keep up the great work and always be that supporting REALTOR® of all age groups.

Jul 25, 2016 04:15 AM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you Dan, and I hope your daughters heed your wise advice!
Jul 25, 2016 07:11 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I wouldn't ever think to shrug off a client because they were too young.  If a lender qualified them and they want to buy, they are getting a home.

Jul 25, 2016 08:20 AM
Sherry McNabb
I agree Chris, I was just grateful that my agent (who had clients buying much more expensive homes than I was purchasing) treated me as if I was her most important client. She could have still sold me a home with a more hands-off approach knowing that she was making a lot less money on the deal than her other clients, but she didn't. I want to be that kind of agent!
Jul 25, 2016 08:30 AM
Paul Savola Real Estate SEO
Paul Savola Internet Marketing - Killeen, TX
Real Estate SEO Expert | Real Estate Leads

Awesome story and seems like you been a lot longer than me. Since, I just started on this social platform a few days ago.

Jul 25, 2016 01:54 PM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you Paul, and welcome to ActiveRain!
Jul 25, 2016 02:41 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

Welcome to the Rain! WOW....buying a house at 19!  Impressive. I love your story. It shows just how committed and passionate you are about your business!

Jul 31, 2016 10:50 PM
Sherry McNabb
Thank you Sharon!
Aug 01, 2016 04:16 AM
Claude Labbe
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Tami....was a treasure to find.  There are other agents out there like that,surely you're living up to the model.

Aug 13, 2016 04:25 PM
Sherry McNabb

Claude, indeed she was!  I certainly hope that I can live up to her model.

Aug 13, 2016 05:42 PM

What's the reason you're reporting this blog entry?

Are you sure you want to report this blog entry as spam?