"Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security." ~ Sue Orman
In 2011, I found myself at a crossroads. Life in the city had become overwhelming, and I desperately needed to press pause and figure out what I wanted in life - what TRULY mattered to me. I was traveling most weeks for work, living out of suitcases and hotel rooms, and I craved a space that felt like mine, that felt like home.
One thing I knew was that I've always felt at peace when I'm in the mountains - it's one of the main reasons I moved from NE to CO in 2003. I started looking at opportunities to buy a home in the mountains, and my REALTOR®, at the time, showed me a foreclosure property that was slightly above my comfortable budget, but felt so undeniably right I couldn't walk away. This place felt like home. MY home. Thanks to my agent, I found the perfect place: a dream project that needed some serious TLC, and I was just the person to provide it.
It had holes in the walls and ceilings, a gutted primary bathroom, and a laundry list of broken, stolen, and unfinished projects. Most people would've run in the opposite direction, but not me, I was all in!
The negotiated purchase price was $280k. The interest rate wasn't much lower than what we're seeing today. For me, it was a LOT more than I thought I could handle. However, deep down, I knew investing in real estate was the smartest move I could make. It wasn't easy. Every spare penny and moment I had went into renovating that house and making it my own. I made sacrifices, I worked harder than I ever thought possible. But piece by piece, dollar by dollar, it came together.
I'm here to tell you it was sooo worth it! That home, the one I poured my heart, soul, and savings into, is now worth over $1M! To top it all off: when rates came down, I refinanced into a 2.5% interest rate! I don't say this to brag - I say it to show what is possible when you take the leap, even when it feels scary AF!
The lesson here: If you're waiting for the "perfect time" to buy a home, you might wait forever. The market will always feel intimidating, but real estate is a long game. In time, you'll look back and wish you had made the move sooner. The sacrifices you make today will reward you tenfold down the line.
That home became my happy place, and it still is to this day! It gave me a fresh start and taught me so much about myself - my strength, my resilience, and my ability to create the life I wanted. Today, that home is not simply an asset or investment; it's a big part of who I am.
If you're thinking about buying a home, whether it's your first, your forever, or your next chapter, give me a call at 303.493.1617 and let's talk about how you can invest in your future and make your real estate dreams a reality. Sometimes, the scariest steps lead to the most beautiful destinations.
