Special offer

Some Advice For The Engaged Couple

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty
Are you getting married soon?  Congratulations and Best Wishes.

I have a bit of advice that I share with every young couple I know who are getting ready to take the plunge into the marriage pool.  Try to live on one salary.  I know it is not easy today but it is possible.  You will thank me if you follow this advice from the start.


You see you will probably want to buy a house someday.  If you live on one salary you can bank the other salary for a down payment.  Be sure you use a little for vacations and such but save most of it for the future.    

When you are ready to buy, find a house that you can afford on one salary.  If that means buying a multi family and living in one apartment while renting the other make that your first home. If it means buying a small house that you can trade up later on do that.  Believe me, you want to have options that are affordable just in case one of you loses a job or you have a baby and someone wants to stay home for a while.                   

I love working with first time home buyers.  There is nothing like the excitement of finding something that they like in the price range they feel comfortable in.  I may spend extra time explaining all the steps that go along with buying a home and they may ask me a whole lot of questions but I get such a great amount of satisfaction from helping them that I really don't mind the extra work. I will help you to find a home that meets your needs without sending you to the poor house.  

You see, I am a helper.  I will give as much as I possibly can to help another human being.  I would love to help you!

Working with an experienced buyer's agent can help you to choose what is best for you.  If you are looking for a home in Orange, Ulster, or Sullivan County NY I would love to be your Buyer's Agent.  If you are looking elsewhere I would love to find someone in your chosen location to help you.  Give me a call or send an email today.

Contact me today for a link to your free electronic almanac loaded with information on the Greater Hudson Valley of New York.  
Hope to hear from you soon.

I'm Paddy Pizappi - Work the Me and You'll be Happy!

Associate Broker with RJ Smith Realty a Real Estate Solutions Company
845-800-7086

Comments(12)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Paddy, It's great advice.  I don't know how many young couples can do it but it serves another point besides saving for a new home.  Unexpected loss of a job by one...I have seen once people rent many times they end up renting forever---I have told my children to do what they have to do to save for their own home.

Sep 25, 2008 01:58 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

It is so true Carole.  I know how hard it is but even if they can base things on 1 and 1/2 salaries it will help and they won't be in as much trouble if something goes wrong. 

Sep 25, 2008 02:02 AM
Kevin O'Shea
Coldwell Banker - White Plains, NY
White Plains, NY Real Estate

Gread advice Paddy,  It is a pleasure working with those first time buyers.

All the best!

Sep 25, 2008 08:37 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Paddy ~ This is what my husband and I did right after we got married.  It was the best thing we ever did.  We lived with his parents in their upstairs which we converted into a little apartment.  A year later when it was getting to be a bit too much we were able to buy our own "handyman special", and 3 1/2 years later moved up to our current home.  I think this is great advice Paddy, and if it can be done these days, it's worth the not going out to dinner or movies.

Sep 25, 2008 08:41 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Thanks Kevin

Kathy- you have to have a plan in order to get ahead.  I think people are realizing that saving is the way to go.  I hope so for the country's sake!

Sep 26, 2008 02:21 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Paddy - great advice.  All the homes I have owned the payment was based upon one salary regardless.

Sep 26, 2008 02:40 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Good thinking Mike. 

Sep 26, 2008 03:58 AM
Dave Culbertson
Real Living Home Team - Mount Vernon, OH

Good post Paddy...as a father of six, a realtor of many, I'm going to, with your permission copy this letter for them all...What great advice!

I always try to teach young people the power of compound interest and how to use it to their advantage. You know the old story, if they pay $50 to $100 extra a month every month, they'll knock years off their mortgage. And if they sock away the same amount, never to touch it, put it regularly in mutual funds...yes even now...they'll have quite a nestegg for later.

Let's educate the young...they'll be takin care of us someday.

Dave Culbertson, Broker/Owner, Real Living Home Team, Mount Vernon, OH

Sep 26, 2008 06:41 AM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Hi Dave You are welcome to provide this to your kids and clients. I hope they all read and learn.  You can't get ahead without a little sacrifice. 

Sep 26, 2008 09:59 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

Hi Paddy,

Interesting advice, but I'd love to meet the newlyweds that actually "lived" off of 1 salary!

Sep 26, 2008 02:29 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Excellent advice Paddy... folks would do well to be much more conservative with their money.  The rewards, while not always immediate, are worth waiting for.

Sep 26, 2008 06:00 PM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

I did say try Greg<G>

Thanks Jesse. I hope some young people listen.  

Sep 26, 2008 10:31 PM