Admin

A Lifelong Dream Achieved: Our Journey to Paying Off the Mortgage šŸ ā¤ļø

By
Real Estate Agent with Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 228209

A Lifelong Dream Achieved: Our Journey to Paying Off the Mortgage šŸ ā¤ļø

Ā 

Last week, we announced that our lake house had officially CLOSED! Sold & SOLD! This week marks an incredible milestone for my husband and me: weā€™ve officially paid off our mortgage! After years of dedication, sacrifices and hard work, our home is truly ours and there are simply NO words to capture the deep sense of fulfillment that brings, NO words. Itā€™s a moment weā€™ve dreamed about for so long and now that itā€™s here, weā€™re soaking in every bit of it.

Ā 

The Road to Mortgage Freedom

Like so many others, we started this journey with a clear goalā€”to one day own our home outright. Every payment we made wasnā€™t just about reducing debt; it was an investment in our future, a step toward financial freedom and a commitment to our familyā€™s security. Along the way, we learned some valuable lessons, made sacrifices and kept our eyes on the prize.

Ā 

For anyone still on this journey, keep going -Ā  NEVER GIVE UP! Here are a few of the things that kept us motivated over the years:

Ā 

  1. Goal Setting ā€“ Breaking down the journey into smaller milestones helped us stay motivated. Whether it was reaching certain payoff percentages or watching our balance dip below new thresholds, these mini-celebrations kept us motivated.
  2. Budgeting and Sacrifice ā€“ Financial discipline was a must. We made small sacrifices along the way, choosing to invest in the future rather than the latest trends. Every little cut in spending brought us closer to the finish line. I will, however, be the first to admit that I was almost always the one who derailed us. My hubby was ever so patient with me, I will say!
  3. Celebrating the Journey ā€“ Paying off a mortgage is a marathon, not a sprint. We found it important to celebrate the small winsā€”knowing every step was a big part of our success story.

Ā 

Reflecting on the Journey

Now that weā€™ve reached the end of our mortgage journey, itā€™s surreal to reflect on where we started. The years have been full of ups and downs, bull markets and recessions, health and illnesses - but, reaching this goal is a testament to the power of persistence and patience. Weā€™re so proud and more than that, grateful for each otherā€™s support every step of the way - especially Ray who never gave up on me when I would de-rail!

Sometimes, I veer off track from our financial goals by investing extra money into home improvementsā€”but Iā€™ve always loved flipping homes, including our own - and I just can't pass up a good opportunity!

Over the years, we've averaged about five years in each property, putting in upgrades and selling at a profit that covers our investment each and every time. Each ā€˜flipā€™ has steadily built more equity, boosting our housing financial foundation with each sale. Our most recent sale was the culmination of all of our personal home sales, allowing us to fully pay off our current home with that saleā€”a milestone that made every single detour absolutely worth it!

Ā 

Looking Ahead

As we begin this exciting new chapter, the possibilities feel positively endless. With no mortgage to hold us back, weā€™re dreaming bigā€”whether that means more travel, new investments, or simply enjoying the freedom that comes from being debt-free. Paying off a mortgage doesnā€™t just free you financially; it frees you to embrace new dreams and ambitions.


To anyone on this journey, hang in there. Every single payment, every little sacrifice, all adds up. One day, youā€™ll also be here and I promiseā€”itā€™ll all be worth it. Hereā€™s to reaching goals, living dreams and building futures - one step at a time.

Ā 


Ā 

Thank you for celebrating this moment with us! If youā€™re on the journey, keep goingā€”youā€™ve got this!Ā  Hereā€™s to new dreams and endless possibilities! šŸŽ‰ #Celebrate #DebtFreeJourney #MortgageFree #FinancialFreedom



Ā© Debe Maxwell, CRS | The Maxwell House Group | Savvy + Company | SavvyBroker@me.com |Ā A Lifelong Dream Achieved: Our Journey to Paying Off the Mortgage šŸ ā¤ļø

Posted by

DEBE MAXWELL, CRS*
Broker | Savvy + Company

Ā (704) 491-3310
CALL OR TEXT

Email Me

OFFICE
(704) 330-8326
1920 E 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28204

My BlogĀ  |Ā  About Me

iCharlotteHomes.com

Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 

Search HomesĀ  |Ā  Testimonials
Free Home Valuation

*Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest credential awarded to residential sales agents, managers and brokers.

Ā  Ā 

Ā 

Comments(19)

Show All Comments Sort:
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thank you, Debe Maxwell, CRS, for sharing your inspiring journey to mortgage freedom! Your dedication and valuable insights remind us all that with perseverance and the right mindset, we can achieve our dreams and create a secure future.

Nov 10, 2024 12:26 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Thank you for your kind words, Lew Corcoran. It's been a long time coming, for sure!

Nov 10, 2024 06:04 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Debe my parents paid off their mortgage, and it was common to do that back then.Ā  Today not so much.Ā  Congratulation on being one of the few who manage to achieve this milestone.

Nov 10, 2024 12:44 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

While we moved every 5 years (buying and improving our personal properties), that helped expedite things, George Souto as we made good $$ on each sale!

Nov 10, 2024 06:05 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Congratulations to you on your state of lack of indebtedness.Ā  It presents new opportunities as you note and flexibility as well.Ā  We achieved that state before my wife retired so that monthly payments had minimal restrictions and limitations.

Nov 10, 2024 01:00 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

We plan to use that flexibility to do some traveling, Ed Silva, 203-206-0754. Ray's vision is holding out and he just got a great report so, we'll be doing some celebratory traveling this year!

Nov 10, 2024 06:09 PM
Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

Congrats Debe!

Celebrating the milestone of finally owning your home with a clear title fills me with nostalgia. Indeed, real estate isn't just about property; it's an investment in our future.

For me, it has been our own real estate venture that paved the way for our retirement.

Nov 10, 2024 02:42 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Same, Aura Alex! As I mentioned to George above, we have to attribute a significant amount of it to our moving and improving our homes every 5 years. That helped us build enough equity so that the final sale last week, gave us what we needed to pay our current home off. I'm so looking forward to seeing the 'no mortgage' in the tax records!

Nov 10, 2024 06:15 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debe= Congratulations to you and Ray!!!Ā  I love that you both shared a plan by saving and making the money invested in your house work for you! I recall an old The Waltons episode when there was a big celebration planned for their mortgage being paid off.Ā 

It occurred to me that this kind of planning should be taught in our schools!

Nov 10, 2024 04:48 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Oh my gosh, absolutely, Kathy Streib! Ray is more disciplined than I am but, I'm the 'creative' (improvement) one who knows what sells and what to do to build equity in our own personal homes. I'm with you 100% on teaching this in schools.

Some of the people who make the most are the ones who need to be educated on financial planning! Professional athletes, etc. are so young when they become wealthy and so many of them actually lose everything. We had that back in the early 2000's with real estate agents here. They lived like kings & queens and when the recession hit, many of them lost everything as well. Another reminder that this business is not for the faint of heart - or the financially undisciplined! šŸ˜‰

Nov 10, 2024 06:21 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Congratulations! That is awesome. Mortgage-free is a big step to freedom, and worthy of a happy dance.

Nov 10, 2024 04:50 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

We certainly had a little celebration with friends on Friday night, Carol Williams and I may or may not have done a happy dance myself! šŸ˜œ

We're having fun discussing what to do with this new 'freedom' now. I'm super busy at work so, every time I'm home, we're working that budget and can't seem to get used to seeing the empty box by the mortgage!! LOL

Nov 10, 2024 06:24 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Debe Maxwell, CRS congratulations for achieving a lifelong dream paying off the mortgage. Have a great week!

Nov 10, 2024 08:35 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Thank you and you do the same, John Pusa! I picked up 5 new clients (repeat & referral) this week so, I'm feeling some of the hesitation waning now, thankfully!

Nov 10, 2024 08:48 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Excellent gratitude post! Having done that journey ourselves, I agree that it is worth the time and effort to get to the point where no money is owed to the bank!

Nov 11, 2024 03:38 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Good Morning, Kat Palmiotti! Congratulations to you as well! It is totally worth all of the time & effort to get to the freedom being debt-free affords us. I'm still walking on clouds!!

Nov 11, 2024 05:34 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Debe and Ray - congratulations on this major achievement.Ā  Good for you!

Nov 11, 2024 03:51 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Thank you so much, Michael Jacobs! We are still pinching ourselves!

Nov 11, 2024 05:35 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Debe,

I'm so proud of you and Ray for having the foresight to set goals for your future and work steadily toward that goal! It is a huge feeling of accomplishment and indeed a testament to the power of persistence and patience! Geno and I had the same goals and accomplished that years before he passed away and the sense of freedom that comes from being debt free is so unbelievably exhilarating! I'm so glad to hear Ray had a good medical report. Happy traveling!

Nov 11, 2024 04:25 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Thank you, Dorie Dillard Austin TX and congratulations on your own freedom. It truly is exhilarating! 5 days after we Closed on the house, his laser post-op follow-up gave us better news than we could have dreamed of. The doctor said that the 'one-year' fear has been increased to TEN! He said to Ray, "We're on the 10-year plan now!"

Yes, the last 10 days of my life have been positively amazing!

Nov 11, 2024 05:38 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTORĀ® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Owning free and clear is a wonderful thing!Ā  Congrats to you and Ray!Ā  Let Ray know that I still hope U of A beats Duke again this year, haha.

Nov 11, 2024 04:52 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

Thanks, Brian England! And, I'll be sure to pass that along! We are loving watching Duke football this year as they rarely have such a good season! I hope you're well. We're both hoping you'll make that trip to NC soon!

Nov 11, 2024 05:40 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Congratulations.Ā  It is definitely very nice not to have any mortgage obligations. And you can always use a home equity line of credit to purchase homes to flip.

Nov 12, 2024 04:08 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Yes, excellent idea, Roy Kelley! That is definitely a passion of mine and I feel like I have quite a few flips left in me!!

Nov 16, 2024 09:55 PM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Life is good!Ā  Dreams come true so plan the next one and make it so GF

Nov 17, 2024 10:13 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Debe Maxwell, CRS - Congratulations! I know how you feel. I paid off my home a few decades ago and it has been so freeing. Sacrifices were many. Budgeting is challenging. But the rewards are gratifying.Ā 

Nov 19, 2024 03:40 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Congratulations- that is a big milestone. I have been in my place about 18 1/2 years and tomorrow will mark 5 years remaining on my mortgage (I refinanced to a shorter mortgage and lower rate awhile back).

Nov 19, 2024 05:08 PM
Charles Ross - eXp Realty (Salina Group) | Broker
Salina Group - Salina, KS
Love To Help People

Wow, Debe Maxwell, CRS, this is so inspiring! Huge congratulations on achieving this incredible milestoneā€”itā€™s proof that hard work, patience, and dedication truly pay off. šŸ”ā¤ļø Your journey is a beacon of hope for anyone chasing their dreams. #StayMotivated #MortgageFree #DreamBig šŸŽ‰

Nov 20, 2024 11:41 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
The best agent in Southern Utah!

Bravo to you and Ray for setting the goal and achieving it, despite anything that may have came along, Debe. That is admirable and has to be freeing at the same time. Party time! šŸ„³šŸŽ‰šŸ„‚

Nov 21, 2024 05:27 PM
Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Hi, Debe! That's a huge milestone and worth celebrating indeed! I have a clear memory from my youth of my parents announcing our home had been paid off! We celebrated it, and now after so many years I still remember it!Ā 

Nov 26, 2024 07:27 AM