Closing one chapter.
In 2009, I bought my first house — a (4) bedroom (2) bath, 1505 sqft home. The process was very long, very stressful given the circumstances at the time but became my reward in the end. Let’s go to the beginning, before this big purchase happened, it’s was Fall 2008 and I was living in my apartment at the time thinking to myself “I wonder if I should try to look into getting pre-approved for a home loan and buy a house”. I knew my lease at my apartment was going to end and I didn’t want to renew because the property management at the time was terrible. I wanted to get out of that apartment complex, so I told myself to look into this, the worst that could happen was that I wouldn’t be pre-approved, and then I’d know if I was ready or not. I worked with a long-time real estate broker and friend who knew me since I was little and helped my mom buy her house back in ‘98-’99. Long story short, I ended up being pre-approved for a home loan, and thus became the search for a house of my own. Fast forward to March 2009 and I had been on countless searches, exhausted and just not finding the perfect starter home for me, but just as I had almost given up, I toured one final house that felt perfect for me. It was a little over my budget but as a first time home buyer back then I would be also utilizing home buyer programs that would help me with the downpayment. Anyway, at the end of March I made an offer on a home that would eventually would be mine but this also meant that with my lease ending in May 2009, my belongings would have to go into storage and I would be homeless while buying my house.
That’s exactly what happened, I was homeless, living in my black 2002 Honda Accord in the middle of summertime, and while none of this was planned or expected, it’s what ended up happening. I did what I had to to move forward and see it to my end. Sure, I told myself that I would stay in a hotel during the process but no one tells you that the home-buying process consumes ALL of your money. I closed escrow on July 30, 2009 after a lengthy process - FINALLY, my very own home. A place that was all mine without anyone to tell me what I could and could not do, a place that was stable after being uprooted and bounced from place to place throughout growing up.
In 2019, I said goodbye to that very first house of mine after ten years of ownership, ten years of blood, sweat and tears into renovating it one project at a time, ten years of various memories. Sometimes, I don’t even know how I did it but I did and I’m proud of myself for that. This house where so many things happened and so many changes originated, this house that I made a home and an accomplishment. I closed this chapter to begin another one that would improve my quality of life, and in way, prepare me for future living, or so I thought. It was hard giving up my space, my safe haven, and I cried — a lot but it was time to close this chapter on a positive note. I will always remember 7644 Harmony Oaks Way, where it all started.
And the new chapter, well, it’s not been an easy one thus far.