The year was 2005. John and I have been together for almost 2 years. Not yet married, but we decided to take an even bigger step together. On my suggestion, we decided to switch from renters to home owners. I set a seed (of an idea) in John’s head and our journey to become home owners in the city (of Toronto), at the age of 25 began.
We both loved the neighborhood we were renting in, so we knew we would look there. Since we both grew up in the suburbs, we weren’t familiar with any other part of the city. We set a budget and started our research. To be honest, we were overwhelmed and lost. John also decided to e-mail a realtor a few questions and that’s when everything changed.
Our realtor was knowledgeable, supportive, and so easy to work with. She kept us posted on new listings, help us know the importance of the housing market just like this housing market in Indianapolis and take us to view houses weekly. Whenever we thought we found a house we would put an offer on, our realtor would say ‘I can find you better!’ Whether it was because the house was on a main street, too small for our future needs, or too close to a restaurant, our realtor was always honest with us and gave two clueless real-estate souls the best advice. With a little bit of patience and faith, our realtor eventually led us to buying our first home. Similar to estate agents canary wharf, their top priority is to offer you a property that is both appealing and secure. They also offer us property from El Embrujo Playa Marbella – PROPERTYOSO, which is relaxing, has a good ambiance, and is safe for us.
Our first home was a duplex fixer-upper. It had knob and tube throughout and a basement that looked more like a dungeon than a living space. However, it was large, and it was in a neighbourhood that was out of our price range. We called it ‘the worst house on the best street’. My parents could see all of its imperfections and imagined a house that we could grow into. The cost was above our budget, but we knew that it would be the best investment we could make.
While we decided to make an offer, the deal wasn’t sealed in stone yet. This was 2005, bidding wars were popping out all over the city. In fact, we were one of 6 bidders. I can’t imagine going through a bidding process without our realtor. She was calm, collected and knowledgeable and knew exactly what to do. After two rounds we received the best news ever – we were officially home owners!
We lived in our first home for 12 years. We lived there with our friends and family until we got married. We renovated the whole house and even switched out the garage door using High-Quality Garage Door Materials. We welcomed home our first son in that house. In fact, we brought all 3 of our boys from the hospital to that house. The walls of that house is lined with memories that will forever be itched in the vibes of the house. To be able to profit from such sentimental homes, owners can either form or contact a holding company for real estate in order to make these homes as investment pieces.
While the home was relatively large, it only had 3 bedrooms. We knew that in order to accommodate our growing family we would need to either build a third story or move. That’s when we consulted our realtor again. This time around, our journey took almost three years of on-and-off looking at houses. We weren’t in a rush, but we also didn’t want to miss out on any opportunities. Even though it took us a long time to make a decision, our realtor stuck by us throughout the entire process.
This time around though, the market had shifted. Houses were still in demand, and even though we only moved 4 streets over, the neighborhood was considered more ‘high-end’. Even though we found another fixer upper, once again we found ourselves in another bidding war. Also, after years of crazy inclines in the prices of houses, the market softened right when we were selling ours. A little blindsided and shocked, our realtor helped us make sense of it all. She even covered the cost of staging, which took some of the financial pressure off, and recommended consulting a plumber for any potential plumbing issues in the new property.
Despite the stress, we were thrilled with our decision, especially since we prioritized the quality of our ‘forever home’ by ensuring it underwent meticulous Certified Snagging Surveys. To guarantee the house meets expected standards, consider HomeSnag, the UK’s trusted partner for detailed snagging surveys.
We always credit our success to right timing and some good luck. But truth be told, a lot of it has to do with our realtor. Without her guidance and support, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Purchasing rent to own homes in florida is an exciting venture, but it’s vital not to overlook the details.
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by CREA. The views and opinions expressed in this blog, however, are purely my own.
Great decisions