Oh, Skylar, first off, congratulations to you and Leon on your home! It is very exciting and a huge accomplishment! I can relate to so much of what you speak about here, having just purchased my very first home at the age of 48! C and I owned a condo for 14 years, but that was such a different experience than this. We owned it together and a condo with a homeowners association to deal with the big items made it so much easier. Now, owning a single family home and having to be responsible for it on my own is a completely different story! While C and I did buy the home together because we are still married, I did the house hunting, negotiating, putting in an offer, dealing with inspections, etc. on my own, and I have to be able to afford the mortgage on my own, and I am now dealing with the growing list of issues mostly on my own. It has been really hard and scary, and all of the stories I have been telling myself for so long have not been helpful! Definitely the story of not ever having my own home, especially after separating from C. The money stress is so real, and with C and I being self-employed, needing to be able to afford buying a home for him now that mine has closed, and then all of the extra expenses (some small and some BIG) that have popped up after closing. And I have definitely felt the frustration with the seller who remodeled the house as a flip and who definitely cut corners to save money, and with my realtor who kept referring to the house as "turnkey" when it wasn't really "turnkey" after all. I am seeing that I have major trust issues, feeling like people aren't being honest with me just so that they can get me to do what they want. All of it has been so very stressful and overwhelming and exhausting, and not to mention the huge emotional aspect of moving to a new city where nothing is familiar and dragging my daughter along with me who had to start a new school (albeit a wonderful school that is really a great fit for her!), and neither one of us likes change or feeling unsettled. There have been a lot of tears and feeling sad and lonely. And a lot of feeling like this was a mistake and more than I can deal with on my own as a single mom and woman. Again, more stories. I feel like I am rambling and venting here, but it really is a big thing buying your very first home. I feel all of what you spoke about and I appreciate you sharing your story and experiences. I feel like it would be so helpful to have a support group for first time home owners!
Skyler, This is a beautiful post. Congrats on your own personal sanctuary. Can't wait to see what magic comes out of it!
Oh, Skylar, first off, congratulations to you and Leon on your home! It is very exciting and a huge accomplishment! I can relate to so much of what you speak about here, having just purchased my very first home at the age of 48! C and I owned a condo for 14 years, but that was such a different experience than this. We owned it together and a condo with a homeowners association to deal with the big items made it so much easier. Now, owning a single family home and having to be responsible for it on my own is a completely different story! While C and I did buy the home together because we are still married, I did the house hunting, negotiating, putting in an offer, dealing with inspections, etc. on my own, and I have to be able to afford the mortgage on my own, and I am now dealing with the growing list of issues mostly on my own. It has been really hard and scary, and all of the stories I have been telling myself for so long have not been helpful! Definitely the story of not ever having my own home, especially after separating from C. The money stress is so real, and with C and I being self-employed, needing to be able to afford buying a home for him now that mine has closed, and then all of the extra expenses (some small and some BIG) that have popped up after closing. And I have definitely felt the frustration with the seller who remodeled the house as a flip and who definitely cut corners to save money, and with my realtor who kept referring to the house as "turnkey" when it wasn't really "turnkey" after all. I am seeing that I have major trust issues, feeling like people aren't being honest with me just so that they can get me to do what they want. All of it has been so very stressful and overwhelming and exhausting, and not to mention the huge emotional aspect of moving to a new city where nothing is familiar and dragging my daughter along with me who had to start a new school (albeit a wonderful school that is really a great fit for her!), and neither one of us likes change or feeling unsettled. There have been a lot of tears and feeling sad and lonely. And a lot of feeling like this was a mistake and more than I can deal with on my own as a single mom and woman. Again, more stories. I feel like I am rambling and venting here, but it really is a big thing buying your very first home. I feel all of what you spoke about and I appreciate you sharing your story and experiences. I feel like it would be so helpful to have a support group for first time home owners!