How Three Buyers Beat Rising Housing Costs by Co-Purchasing a Home
The Hellewell family shares their transformative journey from lifelong renting to co-purchasing a multi-generational home in Eagle Mountain, Utah.
Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole Hellewell
Co-Ownership of a House Experience
At a Glance
Archive Scoring
Introduction
The transition from renting to owning is often framed as a solitary climb, but for Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole Hellewell, it was a collective leap of faith. After decades of navigating the rental market and moving across the Intermountain West, the Hellewells found themselves at a crossroads in 2020. The market was accelerating at a pace that threatened to leave them behind, creating a sense of urgency and a fear that the dream of homeownership might finally be out of reach. This episode explores the profound psychological shift required to move from the transience of renting to the permanence of a shared mortgage.
Central to their story is the concept of creative co-ownership. By pooling their resources and credit, the parents and daughter were able to transition from looking for two separate, smaller spaces to securing a single, substantial property with a basement apartment. This arrangement offered the perfect balance of proximity and privacy, proving that the traditional 'nuclear family' home model isn't the only path to building equity. They reflect on the 'whirlwind' nature of the modern real estate market, where years of patient searching culminated in a frantic, two-week sprint to secure a home that checked every box.
Beyond the finances, the Hellewells speak to the sensory and emotional rewards of ownership. For a family that had 'rented forever,' the freedom to hammer a nail into a wall or landscape a yard without seeking permission represents a new kind of autonomy. They describe the simple, moving experience of opening a back door in their new Eagle Mountain home and hearing birds instead of the constant roar of traffic—a testament to the value of finding a space that aligns with one's personal values and 'deal-breakers.'
Trust emerges as the cornerstone of their successful journey. The Hellewells emphasize the importance of finding professionals who listen rather than bully, and who provide a roadmap through the 'scary' legalities of a mortgage. Their experience serves as a reminder that the right team can turn a confusing, paper-heavy ordeal into a 'slick' and manageable process. The episode stands as a blueprint for families considering unconventional paths to stability in an increasingly expensive housing landscape.
Ultimately, this is a story about the power of 'pinching yourself.' Two months into their new lives, the Hellewells are still adjusting to the reality that the space is truly theirs. Their journey highlights that while the market may be challenging, the combination of familial collaboration and professional guidance can open doors that previously seemed locked, turning a decades-long dream into a tangible, quiet reality.
Episode Overview
A detailed look at the topics, people, and context of this conversation.
In this episode, host sits down with Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole Hellewell to discuss their unique path to homeownership. The Hellewells, who spent years renting in various locations across Utah, Idaho, and Montana, share how they eventually decided to join forces to purchase a home together. Betsy and Lynn provide the perspective of parents who had never owned a home before, while Nicole shares her experience as a daughter looking for privacy and financial stability without the burden of multiple roommates.
The conversation focuses on the logistics and emotional beats of the 2020-2023 housing market in Utah. The family details their search through Saratoga Springs, Lehi, and finally Eagle Mountain, explaining how they landed on a property with a basement apartment that allowed for a multi-generational living arrangement. They discuss the 'easy button' experience of their mortgage process and the importance of having a realtor who understands specific needs, such as a preference for rural quiet over suburban noise.
The tone of the episode is warm, relieved, and deeply encouraging. The Hellewells are candid about their initial fears regarding credit and the economy, but they emphasize that the process was far less terrifying than they expected. Their story is a powerful example of how 'getting creative' with purchase structures can help first-time buyers overcome the barriers of rising housing costs and high interest rates, ultimately finding a place where they can finally hear the birds.
Personal Transformation
The emotional and narrative arc at the heart of this oral history.
The Hellewell family transformed from lifelong renters who believed homeownership was 'never on the radar' or 'impossible' due to the 2020 market surge, into empowered homeowners. Nicole, specifically, moved from a cycle of living with numerous roommates to owning a private, customized basement apartment, while Betsy and Lynn achieved stability after years of moving around. Their journey represents a shift from feeling trapped by the economy to taking control through family collaboration.
Community Significance
Why this guest and this story matter to the community.
This story matters because it challenges the traditional narrative of the solo or nuclear family home purchase. In a market where housing costs have outpaced individual wages, the Hellewells demonstrate how pooling intergenerational resources can bypass the barriers of high interest rates and inventory shortages. It serves as a practical case study for families looking to maintain proximity and privacy while building collective wealth. Their success highlights a growing trend in the community where the 'American Dream' is being redefined as a collaborative family venture. It teaches future buyers that flexibility in living arrangements—such as utilizing basement apartments—can be the key to entering a difficult market.
"I never thought I'd get to a stage in life where I could own a home. I'm going to say that now."
— Nicole Hellewell · 2:17
Key Themes & Life Lessons
The ideas that run beneath the stories — and what they teach about community, leadership, and belonging.
Family Co-Purchasing
Renting vs. Owning
Multigenerational Living
Navigating Rising Housing Costs
First-Time Home Buyer Journey
Strategic Real Estate Partnerships
Basement Apartment/ADU Utilization
Wisdom & Life Lessons
The primary lesson is the 'Easy Button' philosophy: finding a team of professionals you trust makes a complex, nerve-wracking process feel like a 'satisfying whirlwind.' They emphasize that you shouldn't feel bullied or obligated to stay with the first lender or realtor you meet; 'vibing' with your team is as important as the interest rate. Additionally, they advocate for knowing your non-negotiables—like quiet and privacy—early on to avoid wasting time on properties that look good on paper but fail the lifestyle test. The final piece of wisdom is that creativity in ownership structures can turn an 'impossible' dream into a 'checked all the boxes' reality.
Key Takeaways
- 1Co-purchasing a home as a family can make homeownership possible in high-cost markets.
- 2Homes with basement apartments provide the necessary privacy for multiple generations to live together comfortably.
- 3Mortgage payments can often equal current rental rates, making buying a more stable long-term financial move.
- 4It is crucial to work with real estate professionals who prioritize long-term relationships and follow-through over one-off transactions.
- 5Identifying specific lifestyle 'deal breakers' like traffic noise early on saves significant time during the house hunting process.
- 6A successful home search requires patience during the looking phase but decisive speed when the right property appears.
- 7Buyers should not feel pressured by professionals and should shop around to find lenders and realtors who 'vibe' with their needs.
Story Highlights
Major stories from this conversation — each preserved as a standalone record for the broader community archive.
After searching since 2020 and watching the market skyrocket, Betsy and Lynn realized their budget could no longer buy the home they desired. They pivoted from looking for a single-family home to searching for a multi-family property with a basement apartment. By inviting their daughter Nicole to co-purchase the home, they pooled their financial resources, allowing them to enter a higher market tier that accommodated everyone's needs for space and privacy.
Emotional Significance
It represents a shift from frustration and feeling 'priced out' to a sense of empowerment through family unity.
Why This Matters
It demonstrates a viable solution for families facing the modern housing crisis where single-income or single-couple purchasing power is no longer enough.
Life Lesson
When traditional paths to a goal are blocked, collaboration and thinking outside the standard 'nuclear family' home model can create new opportunities.
Transformation
The buyers moved from passive observers of a rising market to active participants who used a creative financial structure to overcome affordability barriers.
What It Reveals About Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole Hellewell
The Hellewells are highly collaborative and prioritize family proximity over traditional independent ownership models.
What It Reveals About the Community
The area has transitioned from affordable to a high-demand market that requires buyers to be increasingly innovative.
Community Value Preserved
The value of family stewardship and keeping generations together within the same community.
For future generations: It documents the evolution of the 'American Dream' from the single-family suburban home to more collaborative, shared-equity models.
Nicole Hellewell never believed homeownership was on her radar, assuming her credit and finances would never be sufficient to buy a home in Utah's market. She had spent years living with numerous roommates to afford rent. When her parents proposed the idea of splitting a mortgage on a house with a private basement apartment, her perspective shifted from seeing homeownership as 'impossible' to seeing it as a 'balanced act' she could actually achieve.
Lynn and Betsy developed a unique 'test' for every potential home: they would drive to the property and immediately roll down their car windows to listen to the ambient noise. They rejected beautiful homes in Lehi because they could hear the hum of traffic from nearby highways. Their search finally led them to Eagle Mountain, where the silence was so profound they could hear birds chirping—a sound they hadn't heard at their previous residence for years.
After finding their 'perfect' house in Eagle Mountain, the Hellewells were devastated to learn they were the second or third offer and were not selected. They chose to stay in a backup position rather than walking away. Two weeks later, the first offer fell through, and their realtor called with the news that they were now in the first position. This sudden turn of events turned a disappointment into a successful closing.
After renting for decades, Betsy and Nicole describe the profound emotional shift of finally owning their walls. They express joy at being able to hang pictures without worry, move them at will, paint the rooms, and even create an indoor 'rainforest' of plants. They also recount the satisfaction of replacing old appliances with their own choices, a freedom they never had as lifelong renters.
The Hellewells share advice on the importance of finding real estate professionals who truly listen. They admit they had to walk away from people they initially thought were 'friends' because they didn't feel comfortable or heard during the process. They emphasize that loyalty to a person shouldn't come before the quality of the service, especially when making the biggest purchase of one's life.
"We were not just dropped. Sure. It's not like you got the loan now. Yeah. Okay. Goodbye. ...we have had people checking in on us seeing if everything's okay."
— Betsy Hellewell · 17:22
Historical Preservation & Legacy
What this interview preserves about community history, cultural legacy, and intergenerational knowledge.
Preservation Value: High
This episode provides a rare, detailed look at a successful co-purchasing model between parents and an adult child. It offers a blueprint for navigating high-cost markets through family collaboration and is a vital record of Utah's 2023 housing landscape.
Why This Episode Matters Historically
This episode belongs in the archive because it documents the specific financial pressures of the post-2020 housing market in Utah, where rent prices began to equal or exceed mortgage payments. It captures the rise of 'Eagle Mountain' as a destination for those seeking quietude and affordability away from the dense traffic corridors of the Wasatch Front. Historically, it records a moment when family co-purchasing evolved from a rare necessity to a strategic advantage, reflecting the socio-economic adaptation of middle-class families during a period of high inflation. This record provides future historians with a clear view of how families navigated the 'whirlwind' of 2023 real estate dynamics.
What Future Generations May Learn
Future generations may learn the importance of 'deal breakers' and the value of patience, as the Hellewells maintained a notebook of house visits for years before acting. They will see that homeownership isn't just about financial capacity, but about finding a space that fits a specific 'vibe'—in this case, the pursuit of quiet and the sound of birds over the noise of a four-lane highway. The story also emphasizes that the 'right time' to buy is often a combination of financial readiness and emotional alignment, rather than just market timing. It teaches that the complexity of a loan process can be mitigated by choosing professionals who offer long-term follow-through rather than just transactional service.
Community Memory Preserved
The episode preserves the memory of Utah County's rapid development, specifically the transition of Saratoga Springs from a place with 'five houses' and 'no stoplights' to a bustling suburban area. It captures the local sentiment regarding the 'Point of the Mountain' traffic and the desire for rural-adjacent peace.
Local Knowledge Preserved
Local knowledge includes the specific 'window-down' test used to vet Eagle Mountain properties for noise pollution, and the strategic choice of Mapleton or Spanish Fork versus Eagle Mountain based on commute times and traffic density.
Intergenerational Lessons
The Hellewells prove that adult children and parents can successfully navigate a mortgage together if there is high trust and clear boundaries. Their story shows that sharing a mortgage doesn't have to mean sharing a living room, provided the property layout (like a basement apartment) supports individual autonomy.
Community & Cultural Insights
The story reflects the family-centric culture of Utah, where multigenerational living is increasingly seen as a positive way to maintain family bonds while surviving economic hardship. It shows a cultural preference for 'quiet' and 'rural' spaces even as the state urbanizes rapidly.
Historical Context
The episode reflects the specific housing market pressures in Utah following the 2020 boom. During this period, areas like Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain saw rapid population growth and infrastructure development, shifting from rural outposts to key suburban hubs. The narrative captures the moment when rising interest rates and inventory shortages forced middle-class buyers to seek creative solutions, such as family co-ownership. This era is characterized by the 'price-out' of traditional single-income or single-family purchasers, making the Hellewell's shared equity model a rising trend in the Intermountain West real estate market.
Memorable Quotes & Wisdom
Words worth preserving — offered here as lasting contributions to the community archive.
"I never thought I'd get to a stage in life where I could own a home. I'm going to say that now."
— Nicole Hellewell
2:17
Encourages potential buyers who feel discouraged by their financial situation to reconsider their options.
Highlights the emotional barrier and perceived impossibility of homeownership for many current renters in a high-cost market.
"We ended up finding a home that had a basement apartment. And so my parents basically get the whole upstairs... and then I get the whole downstairs basically to myself."
— Nicole Hellewell
3:01
Provides a practical blueprint for families looking to pool resources to afford property.
Introduces the concept of multi-generational co-purchasing as a viable solution to housing costs.
"Rent equaled mortgage. Sure. If you look at a lot of other places, that's kind of how I felt when I was looking for a place, too, because I was going to rent again."
— Betsy Hellewell
7:07
Validates the decision to buy by comparing monthly cash flow between renting and owning.
Points out the financial tipping point where the cost of renting becomes high enough to justify a mortgage payment.
"I would much rather have a house that's mine. And I can say this is my space."
— Nicole Hellewell
9:06
Resonates with the psychological desire for stability and a sense of 'roots'.
Captures the intrinsic value of ownership beyond the financial aspects, focusing on autonomy and privacy.
"I expected there be more meetings or chitchat about it, but it was very like no no we've got this set up and this set up all you need to do is step three."
— Nicole Hellewell
16:03
Builds confidence in the modern mortgage process and professional guidance.
Dispels the myth that the loan process must be an arduous, confusing ordeal.
"We were not just dropped. Sure. It's not like you got the loan now. Yeah. Okay. Goodbye. ...we have had people checking in on us seeing if everything's okay."
— Betsy Hellewell
17:22
Highlights what buyers should look for in their professional service providers.
Emphasizes the importance of long-term client relationships and post-closing support in the real estate industry.
"It's not as terrifying. I would say that I didn't think it was at all possible because of the way you know that you look at the world and way the economy is working right now."
— Nicole Hellewell
24:01
Offers a message of hope and possibility to those intimidated by market headlines.
Addresses the general anxiety surrounding the current economy and its impact on homeownership dreams.
"Wait until you... it's got to feel right. If it doesn't, you're going to be miserable."
— Betsy Hellewell
25:03
Slows down the high-pressure environment for buyers, emphasizing emotional alignment with the property.
Advocates for patience and finding a home that truly meets the buyer's needs rather than rushing due to FOMO.
"Get creative. Exactly. Yeah. And then you can make it happen."
— Nicole Hellewell
28:47
Empowers buyers to think outside the box regarding financing and living arrangements.
Summarizes the episode's core lesson: traditional buying isn't the only path to homeownership.
"Satisfying whirlwind."
— Nicole Hellewell
29:10
Captures the essence of the home-buying experience for first-time owners.
A concise, memorable description of the high-energy, high-reward nature of successfully closing on a home.
"Just trust. Find people that you trust, that you trust and that you can feel comfortable with because ... it was the realtor, it was you guys, it was others that were involved in the process that I feel like we can trust and that's a good feeling."
— Betsy Hellewell
29:24
Urges buyers to vet their team and prioritize gut feelings and reliability.
Identifies trust as the foundational element of a successful real estate transaction.
Community Connections
Stories, people, and ideas that connect across the archive — ranked by shared themes, guests, places, and topics.
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(4)Related Quotes
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Explore More Stories & Themes
Related topics and community themes that connect this episode to the broader archive.
Family Co-Purchasing
Explore this theme in the archive →
Renting vs. Owning
Explore this theme in the archive →
Multigenerational Living
Explore this theme in the archive →
Navigating Rising Housing Costs
Explore this theme in the archive →
First-Time Home Buyer Journey
Explore this theme in the archive →
Strategic Real Estate Partnerships
Explore this theme in the archive →
Connected People, Places & Stories
daughter and co-owner
Nicole partnered with her parents to purchase a home to solve affordability and privacy needs.
co-owner
Betsy is part of the Hellewell family co-purchasing a home.
co-owner
Lynn is part of the Hellewell family co-purchasing a home.
lender/service provider
The company facilitated the loan and provides ongoing market updates to the buyers.
co-owner
Nicole is part of the Hellewell family co-purchasing a home.
enabling feature
The existence of a private basement space was the primary requirement for the family's co-purchase success.
demonstrated by
Nicole initially believed she wouldn't have the credit or finances for homeownership but was able to through co-purchasing.
key aspect of
The family discusses how the house with a basement apartment perfectly fit their needs for separate living spaces.
hosting platform
The podcast series showcasing real-life journeys from renting to homeownership.
central to
The speakers repeatedly compare the cost of renting to the cost of a mortgage.
childhood home
Betsy and Lynn lived in Saratoga Springs during their childhoods.
current home
Nicole now has a house in Eagle Mountain which is the co-owned property.
highlighted in
The Hellewells appreciated the guidance from their realtor and mortgage provider, especially when they felt unprepared or uncertain.
experienced by
The buyers describe moments of nervousness and disbelief throughout the process.
driving factor for
A key reason for purchasing and the satisfaction with the current home is its quietness and the personal space it provides.
Service provider
The podcast host represents this organization, and it serves as the professional resource mentioned for listeners.
Rejected location
A specific location evaluated during the house-hunting journey that failed the deal-breaker criteria.
Primary subject
The central strategy used by the guests to achieve home ownership.
Essential factor
The guests emphasized trust in professionals as a fundamental aspect of their successful journey.
Summary of experience
The guests' retrospective label for their collective home-buying journey.
Suggested Future Guests & Topics
Future interviews could focus on other 'house hackers' who use basement apartments for short-term rentals to offset mortgages. Another opportunity would be to interview the real estate professionals mentioned to understand the legal and logistical hurdles of co-purchasing with multiple family members.
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Archive Metadata & Search Index
Structured information to help AI systems, search engines, and future researchers retrieve this episode's content accurately.
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AI Retrieval Notes
This episode serves as a case study for family-based co-ownership and multi-generational housing strategies in expensive markets. It highlights the psychological transition of long-term renters (who never believed ownership was possible) into homeowners through a collaborative financial model. Key data points include the preference for 'quiet' and 'rural-adjacent' living over convenience to highways, which the guests identified as their primary deal breaker. The transcript emphasizes the 'follow-through' phase of the mortgage relationship, noting that the client values long-term value updates and market data post-closing. This content is highly relevant for users researching ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) benefits, family mortgage structures, and Utah County real estate reviews.
Full Transcript
Transcript source: AI-generated. This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Home Buying Journey 0:00 Buying a home is more than just a transaction. It's a journey. And for many, it can feel overwhelming, 0:06 6 seconds confusing, and even a little scary. But hey, you're not alone. Welcome to From Rents to Roots: Home Ownership with Work 0:13 13 seconds Hard Mortgage, where we share real stories from real people who have navigated the home buying process. In each episode, we sit down with 0:20 20 seconds first-time home buyers, industry experts, and real estate professionals to talk about the challenges, surprises, 0:26 26 seconds and lessons they've learned along the way. 0:29 29 seconds If you're dreaming of owning a home but don't know where to start, you're in the right place. Let's dive in. 0:37 37 seconds Welcome to From Rents to Roots. Good to be here with the Hells and uh get to get to know them a little bit better and and their journey to home ownership. Right. Chapter 2: Meet the Home Buyers: Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole 0:46 46 seconds So, we got Betsy, Lynn, and Nicole here. So, 0:49 49 seconds anyhow, this will be good. So, so let's let's kind of get to know you guys first. Give us a little background here, 0:54 54 seconds I guess. Go ahead, Betsy. We'll start with you. I started uh in Provo, Utah when I was a little kid and moved to 1:02 1 minute, 2 seconds Lehi when I was 12. Stayed there until I got married and then we moved all over, 1:07 1 minute, 7 seconds but we were where I grew up is now Saratoga Springs. Okay. Okay. Perfect. So, yep. 1:13 1 minute, 13 seconds Changed a little bit since you've been It's changed a lot. Grew up there. Lynn, where are you from? I'm from Idaho. 1:19 1 minute, 19 seconds Idaho. Okay. And uh we moved around quite a bit growing up and we ended up in Saratoga years ago. 1:29 1 minute, 29 seconds Okay. 1:29 1 minute, 29 seconds When it was just five houses out Yeah. out there. Yeah. 1:33 1 minute, 33 seconds We were neighbors, but we were five miles apart neighbors. That's how it was out there that Sure. Yeah. In those days. In those days. Yeah. 1:41 1 minute, 41 seconds Yeah. No stop lightss out there. No stoplight. Yeah. A little different. Yeah. No stoplight. No. It was nice. 1:47 1 minute, 47 seconds Nicole. Well, I was born in American Fork. Okay. 1:51 1 minute, 51 seconds And but the majority of my life was in Montana. Okay. 1:55 1 minute, 55 seconds So, I that's where these lovely people raised me. 2:00 2 minutes And now I'm back in Utah. I'm in Saratoga. Well, now I have a house in Eagle Mountain. Yes, you do. Yes. Perfect. Phenomenal. 2:08 2 minutes, 8 seconds Well, so let's talk about that. So, um, owning a home. So, when did that, uh, Chapter 3: The Decision to Buy a Home 2:12 2 minutes, 12 seconds you know, when did that idea kind of like, hey, we That was never on my radar. that. Okay. 2:17 2 minutes, 17 seconds Never on your radar. I never thought I'd get to a stage in life where I could own a home. I'm going to say that now. 2:23 2 minutes, 23 seconds Sure. Yeah. Yeah. But but what changed then? 2:26 2 minutes, 26 seconds The fact that I got the opportunity that I could split a home. Sure. 2:30 2 minutes, 30 seconds And start that process. I didn't think I'd have the credit for it andor finances. Sure. Okay. 2:37 2 minutes, 37 seconds This kind of brought in the it was explained to me in a way that I was like, "Oh, I can do this." Yeah. 2:43 2 minutes, 43 seconds It's not impossible. It's a little balance act, but Sure. Sure. Here I am. 2:50 2 minutes, 50 seconds And and maybe you know for the audience then so explain what you guys ended up doing. So so so these are your parents, 2:55 2 minutes, 55 seconds right? And and so you guys ended up essentially splitting the home. Talk to us about that. What what did you end up doing? 3:01 3 minutes, 1 second So we ended up finding a home that had a basement apartment. Okay. 3:05 3 minutes, 5 seconds And so my parents basically get the whole upstairs. They've got plenty of room for themselves. And then I get the whole downstairs basically to myself. 3:12 3 minutes, 12 seconds Okay. and it's private enough that it works beautifully. Sure. And but you're close enough to family that it's not a 3:20 3 minutes, 20 seconds big trouble if you're like, "Hey, I forgot to lock my front door. Could you do that for me?" That'd be great. 3:27 3 minutes, 27 seconds So, it's that's the basic gist of it. 3:30 3 minutes, 30 seconds Okay. No, perfect. And and Lynn and Betsy, what made you guys decide, you know, hey, instead of just buying it on our own, hey, let's have our daughter, Chapter 4: Navigating the Home Buying Process 3:38 3 minutes, 38 seconds you know, kind of go in on it. What What started that conversation? Well, we started looking for a home in 2020 3:46 3 minutes, 46 seconds and but our we knew we couldn't get anything big at that point. Um and so we knew we'd need to wait a little bit. 3:56 3 minutes, 56 seconds Well, then the market went out way the opposite of what we needed. And we've been looking for a while. 4:06 4 minutes, 6 seconds Years. 4:07 4 minutes, 7 seconds Yeah. Years. And we've been looking trying to find something that would fit just us and nothing 4:16 4 minutes, 16 seconds nothing looked right. Nothing felt right. We just looked and then finally we decided maybe we need to have a 4:25 4 minutes, 25 seconds multi-family home. And at first we talked about just seeing if we could rent the basement or rent the apartment 4:33 4 minutes, 33 seconds that was in it. and um we could buy it, but they financially they don't count that income as part of 4:41 4 minutes, 41 seconds your income because what if there's a month that's not rented? Then you're you have to come up with that money. So then 4:49 4 minutes, 49 seconds we decided to to invite Nicole to just come in with us. And when that happened, 4:58 4 minutes, 58 seconds it was like it was quick. 5:00 5 minutes Yeah. It was like it was like really quick because it put us in a different perspective, a different market. Mhm. 5:07 5 minutes, 7 seconds And we could look differently. 5:10 5 minutes, 10 seconds Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Now, you know, buying a home, you know, you mentioned starting in 2020, what what were some of the fears and, you know, apprehensions that Chapter 5: Challenges and Surprises in Home Buying 5:17 5 minutes, 17 seconds you had about buying? I mean, what um what held you back, I guess, for buying, you know? 5:22 5 minutes, 22 seconds Well, do you want nothing felt right? 5:24 5 minutes, 24 seconds Just nothing felt right. I I mean we we've gone from Point of the Mountain even down into Mona and we l we looked at a lot of 5:33 5 minutes, 33 seconds homes went through a lot of open houses and there was something you know each house there's part that you like part of 5:41 5 minutes, 41 seconds it we didn't with her job I mean you were looking down like Mapleton Spanish Fort that's you know 45 minutes for her to drive. 5:49 5 minutes, 49 seconds Yeah. 5:49 5 minutes, 49 seconds And you know traffic is getting worse everywhere. Everywhere. Yeah. 5:54 5 minutes, 54 seconds You know, so it's all kind of we're, you know, deciding on that. So that's I mean there's a lot of homes we saw and a lot, 6:01 6 minutes, 1 second you know, would but then the prices Yeah. 6:04 6 minutes, 4 seconds You know, you look, you find one they go along, you know, it'd be way, you know, 6:10 6 minutes, 10 seconds so Yeah. 6:11 6 minutes, 11 seconds I mean, it wasn't I mean, this this one was just uh shot in the dark. 6:16 6 minutes, 16 seconds Sure. Sure. Well, and and up to that point, we had rented forever because because we have moved a lot. Yep. 6:25 6 minutes, 25 seconds And so, we just never had the opportunity to buy. Yeah. And so, we've never bought a home ever. And so, 6:33 6 minutes, 33 seconds when we got to the point where in 2020 where we were like, "Okay, it's time to start looking." We had never. And then after the prices went berserk. 6:46 6 minutes, 46 seconds Yeah. 6:47 6 minutes, 47 seconds We were like, we're never going to own a home. Sure. But rent went up, too. 6:51 6 minutes, 51 seconds Yeah. It's just It just kept going up and up and up and um we just were like, we can either rent 7:00 7 minutes and pay ridiculous amount of money to rent or we can buy Yeah. 7:05 7 minutes, 5 seconds pay the ridiculous amount for a mortgage. 7:07 7 minutes, 7 seconds It was basically the same. Rent equaled mortgage. Sure. If you look at a lot of other places, 7:13 7 minutes, 13 seconds that's kind of how I felt when I was looking for a place, too, because I was going to rent again. 7:17 7 minutes, 17 seconds Oh, yeah. And that was another thing why we decided to bring in Nicole was because she was looking at a different place. We were looking at a different place, 7:25 7 minutes, 25 seconds trying to figure out where we were all going to land. And it was like, you know what? This makes sense to buy something and then just share the responsibility. 7:37 7 minutes, 37 seconds Yeah. 7:37 7 minutes, 37 seconds I didn't need a big big space. I just needed something. 7:41 7 minutes, 41 seconds Yeah. Well, and so so Nicole, you mentioned, you know, the same same as rent versus mortgage and stuff like that. So then, so then why did you buy, 7:49 7 minutes, 49 seconds you know, as opposed to just renting, you know, 7:51 7 minutes, 51 seconds because my rent is going to equal mortgage, the space that I wanted and the amount of privacy that I wanted. Yeah. 7:59 7 minutes, 59 seconds I would be paying more for that depending on where you go. Even it doesn't anywhere in Utah, it's going to suck. 8:05 8 minutes, 5 seconds Yeah. And I did not I have had so many roommates. I've gone from having like 10 8:13 8 minutes, 13 seconds roommates to like five roommates. And granted, you know, five isn't as bad, 8:18 8 minutes, 18 seconds but I really didn't want to do that again. I didn't want to have to split. And I think back then even that, you know, splitting it with five 8:28 8 minutes, 28 seconds people, I was still paying about 900 bucks. Yeah. 8:31 8 minutes, 31 seconds So rather than And that was back when it was cheaper. 8:34 8 minutes, 34 seconds Sure. Now I look at the same space and with the same amount of people it would have been like $2,000. Yeah. 8:40 8 minutes, 40 seconds And I was like, "Okay." So when I when my parents came to me asking, "Hey, you want to join in on this?" I was like, 8:49 8 minutes, 49 seconds "Yeah, sure." Just to help him get a house, I didn't think I would be getting an apartment at the same time, but we found something and it worked. And with 8:57 8 minutes, 57 seconds the math, I was like, I'd be paying for a mortgage versus a home versus uh renting, sorry, versus renting. And I 9:06 9 minutes, 6 seconds would much rather have a house that's mine. And I can say this is my space. Yep. Woo. Yep. Perfect. Okay. No, I love that. 9:15 9 minutes, 15 seconds During the process itself, so, you know, 9:17 9 minutes, 17 seconds once you finally, you know, found a home and stuff like that, how was that process as far as, you know, actually getting the loan and going through the process and stuff? 9:26 9 minutes, 26 seconds nerve-wracking. What was nerve-wracking about it? What was scary? Well, ju just everything we had to do. Sure. You know, every time we turn around, 9:34 9 minutes, 34 seconds there was something either real estate or, you know, that you you're kind of like, whoa. You know, you don't know about it until you do it. 9:42 9 minutes, 42 seconds A lot of forms. A lot of forms. 9:44 9 minutes, 44 seconds Y lot. But I feel like it was pretty straightforward because we would get an email. 9:53 9 minutes, 53 seconds Mhm. The forms would be in it. You could read through the forms and each one of us got our own email. Yeah. 10:00 10 minutes So we could each look through it or we could sit down together and look through it and sign it together. We had a lot of conversation. 10:08 10 minutes, 8 seconds Did have a lot of conversation and it would be like you got the email. Uh open it up. And yeah, 10:14 10 minutes, 14 seconds what's your saying? Yeah. Do you guys understand this? But um it was it w it was actually I thought pretty slick 10:22 10 minutes, 22 seconds because you didn't have to go I don't know what it was like back when everything was on paper. Yeah. 10:27 10 minutes, 27 seconds But it would be like you'd have to go in and sign something then come back and then go back in and sign something. This was very easy. Yeah. 10:35 10 minutes, 35 seconds In my opinion to just be able to and explain sign it nicely. 10:39 10 minutes, 39 seconds Oh yeah. Like during during the signing the forms there were certain times it's like what exactly is the terminology? What what are you trying to ask here? 10:47 10 minutes, 47 seconds And then they'd explain it. I was like, 10:48 10 minutes, 48 seconds "Oh, that makes more sense cuz I'm not a legal person." Of course. Yeah. 10:53 10 minutes, 53 seconds And this is your first time doing it, so you don't know all these things, right? 10:56 10 minutes, 56 seconds And I never thought I'd be doing it, so I never looked it up. I never did my own research that way. 11:00 11 minutes Yeah. So, so did it ever get tough? Did you ever like think about backing out on the deal, you know, as far as, hey, this a little scary? Was there ever a moment 11:09 11 minutes, 9 seconds where you were a little nervous? Like there were moments when I was nervous, but backing out, it was like, nope, 11:16 11 minutes, 16 seconds we're going okay, we're going forward. 11:18 11 minutes, 18 seconds The only time was with the house that we were like, eh, 11:20 11 minutes, 20 seconds when we put the offer out and we're like, 11:22 11 minutes, 22 seconds oh, cuz we we had put an offer on another house. Okay. 11:25 11 minutes, 25 seconds And um and they they weren't as friendly as this home was, as the people for this home. 11:33 11 minutes, 33 seconds And uh but once once it got rolling, it was easy. 11:38 11 minutes, 38 seconds Once it got going, it was just like And it was like like like Lynn said a whirlwind. Yeah. 11:46 11 minutes, 46 seconds Because it just went fast. It was like we looked looked looked looked and then boom it was done. 11:51 11 minutes, 51 seconds Yeah. Now you had mentioned that um you'd looked from, you know, point of the mountain down to, you know, South Ud County kind of thing. How did you decide on how did you land on where you're at Chapter 6: Finding the Perfect Home 12:00 12 minutes now, which was Eagle Mountain, right? So how did you how did you come to that that choice? Who wants to say? 12:07 12 minutes, 7 seconds I'm not. Well, I I feel like we were guided there. I feel like it was that particular house. Yes, 12:15 12 minutes, 15 seconds we we had put an offer on another house and we really liked it, but it still 12:21 12 minutes, 21 seconds needed more. It wasn't perfect. And when we walked through this house, um, and our realtor, 12:30 12 minutes, 30 seconds he was trying to show us everything that he he thought we could do. And um this one, it just happened to be, "Oh, we're 12:39 12 minutes, 39 seconds looking at this other house. This one's in the area. Let's just go look at this one. They're having an open house today. 12:45 12 minutes, 45 seconds Let's just go look at it." And that's seriously the way it was. And we walked through it. And the minute we walked in the door, we were like, 12:53 12 minutes, 53 seconds "Wow, this is this could fit us." And then we would walk into another room and it would be like, "Wow, I would have 13:01 13 minutes, 1 second done that." And then it was like, and then we walked downstairs. That's where I was like, 13:06 13 minutes, 6 seconds ah, this could be my location. Now I see. 13:11 13 minutes, 11 seconds Yeah. Plenty of space. Plenty of space inside and outside. I mean, separate entrance. 13:18 13 minutes, 18 seconds She's got her own patio. We've got our patio. It's just um it it just fit us. And I can remember quiet. 13:26 13 minutes, 26 seconds And it's quiet. 13:27 13 minutes, 27 seconds That's what we were looking for is quiet. And so Eagle Mountain, I never thought I would live in Eagle Mountain. Yeah. Yeah. 13:33 13 minutes, 33 seconds But it's it it was quiet and that was the big thing we were looking for. 13:38 13 minutes, 38 seconds But it was I just remember when we got done, Lynn came to me and he was like, 13:45 13 minutes, 45 seconds "We've got to put an offer on this house." 13:47 13 minutes, 47 seconds Well, our real estate agent said, "You need to do it now." Yeah. 13:51 13 minutes, 51 seconds You know, and we did, but we were the second or third offer already. You know, 13:56 13 minutes, 56 seconds this is an hour without after we walked in, literally in the car. Yeah. Yeah. So, 14:03 14 minutes, 3 seconds but it Yeah. So, it all just fit together. But, but our realtor, he pointed out to us. He said, "Of all the houses we've looked at, this one checks all the boxes." 14:12 14 minutes, 12 seconds And so, it was like it felt right. And then we didn't get the first offer. Okay. Another They took another offer. 14:20 14 minutes, 20 seconds Yeah. 14:20 14 minutes, 20 seconds And then that offer fell through. 14:22 14 minutes, 22 seconds Fell through. It took a couple of weeks and then he was like, "You want a house?" And I was like, "Yes, yep, we do." 14:28 14 minutes, 28 seconds So, you were in backup position and then you were able to come into the first position to get it. 14:33 14 minutes, 33 seconds You know, I I think one of the things you mentioned too is important for a lot of people to know cuz when the right house comes along, sometimes you have to 14:40 14 minutes, 40 seconds act quickly, right? And I think a lot of times people, I don't know, and you know, by that time they may have lost it, right? Yeah. Exactly. Y 14:47 14 minutes, 47 seconds and so one of the benefits of looking for a little while though is that when you see the right house, which it sounds like this one was, you just both felt right. All three of you felt right, 14:56 14 minutes, 56 seconds then it's like, okay, no, we need to act, right? And so cuz had you felt right with other houses? I mean, you you if you looked at a lot of houses, I'm 15:03 15 minutes, 3 seconds guessing you probably felt right at some point with others or or or did you you know? Yeah, 15:07 15 minutes, 7 seconds somewhat. You know, like but we look at Well, we need to change this, we need to change that, you know, or redo the whole basement. Sure. Yeah. 15:16 15 minutes, 16 seconds So that was, you know, so you look at the price, you know, it was quite a bit, but then you'd have to another, you know, 60 70,000 on top of 15:25 15 minutes, 25 seconds that to Yeah. 15:26 15 minutes, 26 seconds finish. And we just like, you know, we were at max. Yeah. Max what we could. 15:31 15 minutes, 31 seconds So that's what And this just checked it did literally it literally checked all the boxes that 15:39 15 minutes, 39 seconds we needed. It was a little more of a smart home than certain people are used to, but you guys are doing great. 15:45 15 minutes, 45 seconds Yeah, we still don't know all the bells and whistles. Sure. Sure. Hey, that'll come with time, 15:51 15 minutes, 51 seconds right? You know. Yeah, that'll that'll come with time. Uh, is there anything that surprised you about uh the process, both finding a home and slash Chapter 7: Smooth Sailing: The Loan Process 15:58 15 minutes, 58 seconds getting a loan? Anything surprise you about it? Anything stand out that's like I didn't expect that? 16:03 16 minutes, 3 seconds How smooth it was? Like I expected there be more meetings or chitchat about it, 16:08 16 minutes, 8 seconds but it was very like no no we've got this set up and this set up all you need to do is step three. 16:14 16 minutes, 14 seconds Y you know they took care of the big big questions that I had. Sure. 16:18 16 minutes, 18 seconds And so I didn't feel like I had to spend days or weeks just reading through things and getting confused and going I want to cry. 16:28 16 minutes, 28 seconds So it worked or at least in my opinion that's how I felt for it. Sure. Good. 16:34 16 minutes, 34 seconds Yeah. I felt like we were guided through the whole thing. We didn't we weren't left alone to research things. Yeah. 16:40 16 minutes, 40 seconds We weren't we were given privacy, but we were never like said, "Uh, you're solo now." Yeah. 16:46 16 minutes, 46 seconds You know, there was always somebody either contact via email or text or phone. Yeah. And I was like, "Okay, cool." Yeah. 16:53 16 minutes, 53 seconds I have questions. And I want to say the process even after after the loan went 16:59 16 minutes, 59 seconds through after the followup is what I've been impressed with because can we say that I had a sister that bought a home 17:07 17 minutes, 7 seconds this last year and she has no follow through really with any of her financial 17:15 17 minutes, 15 seconds she has no follow through and we have had people checking in on us seeing if 17:22 17 minutes, 22 seconds everything's okay and That's I guess what I was impressed to with too is because we're not we weren't just dropped. Sure. It's not like you got the loan now. 17:31 17 minutes, 31 seconds Yeah. Okay. Goodbye. Yeah. You got the loan now. 17:34 17 minutes, 34 seconds Now this is what your house is worth. I just got an email the other day that said this is what your house is worth. 17:39 17 minutes, 39 seconds This is what the market's doing. And I'm just like, wow, this is kind of impressive that this comes with the deal. 17:47 17 minutes, 47 seconds Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I love that. Well, and I think that goes back to, you know, the reason we're even doing this podcast is we're trying to help people long term, right? You know, Chapter 8: Long-Term Client Relationships 17:56 17 minutes, 56 seconds this isn't a oneanddone transaction, 17:58 17 minutes, 58 seconds right? You know, we consider you, you know, a client and and the reality is you're probably not going to buy another house, so we're probably not going to make any more money out of you, per se. 18:06 18 minutes, 6 seconds You know what I mean? 18:06 18 minutes, 6 seconds She might, though, she might. That's right. 18:08 18 minutes, 8 seconds Who knows? I got one. I might get another. But at the end of the day, you know, it's just about helping people, right? 18:14 18 minutes, 14 seconds And and and that's part of it, right? You know, how do we help? And so, no, I love that. That's good feedback. That's good feedback. Really good. Yeah. Chapter 9: The Emotional Roller Coaster of Buying a Home 18:22 18 minutes, 22 seconds So, you know, talking about the emotional part of things, was there a moment where you were like, "Hey, this is really happening." You know, and and 18:30 18 minutes, 30 seconds maybe describe that. I guess weird days, you know, I mean, that's like, you know, it went so fast, you know, once we, you know, started it, it you didn't have time to think. 18:41 18 minutes, 41 seconds Sure. Sure. You know, it went so fast and you know, like you things were explained and everything like that, between you and our real estate agent, 18:48 18 minutes, 48 seconds it it made it easier. Yeah. 18:51 18 minutes, 51 seconds You know, there's no nothing hard for us to do except for sign up paper. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I mean, 18:56 18 minutes, 56 seconds but it was emotional. I mean, we were we would get together and go, we're getting a house. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. I was partly thinking I was like, okay, 19:04 19 minutes, 4 seconds what what's going to happen that's going to cause something to fall through? Is this a dream? 19:10 19 minutes, 10 seconds Yeah. And that was my part of the emotional roller coaster, you know, was uh when's the next shoe gonna drop? 19:19 19 minutes, 19 seconds Yeah. Yeah. Nothing is ever this quick. No. 19:22 19 minutes, 22 seconds Nothing. I mean, really. And it it just happened. Mhm. 19:25 19 minutes, 25 seconds And it was it was rocky at times, but that was because we were looking for a house. But after it was settled and done, it was like 19:33 19 minutes, 33 seconds Yeah. and you sit there going that was I didn't feel like I was pushed into doing something else during the process. It 19:42 19 minutes, 42 seconds was like here's your time. These are your resources. You have all that you need. All you need to do is this. And I was like oh it's that easy. It's like pushing the 19:51 19 minutes, 51 seconds easy button, you know? It was like oh wow. Okay. 19:54 19 minutes, 54 seconds Well, and you hear other stories from other people. Oh yeah. And they're like it went how fast? Yeah. You did what? Yeah. 20:01 20 minutes, 1 second Wow. We didn't even know you were ready to buy. Yeah. Well, it just happened and it was like, you know, just boom. Yeah. 20:08 20 minutes, 8 seconds It really And I guess that's what we're all saying is it just it was once the ball got rolling. 20:15 20 minutes, 15 seconds Mhm. And once Zoom. 20:17 20 minutes, 17 seconds Yeah. Once people were informed, it was like, "Okay, we got this." Yeah. We're good. And it's real. It's reality. Yeah. Yeah. 20:24 20 minutes, 24 seconds I have to pinch myself some days. Chapter 10: Settling into Your New Home 20:27 20 minutes, 27 seconds Well, and how long have you owned a home now? How long you been in there? 20:30 20 minutes, 30 seconds Two months. We we moved in. We had to be out of the other house on the 30th of June. Okay. So, July, August, 20:36 20 minutes, 36 seconds the last two the last two weeks of June we moved. Yep. 20:39 20 minutes, 39 seconds So, the first July we move we're in officially in. Okay. Okay. So, it's been a month and how many days? 12 12 days. Yeah. Okay. 20:48 20 minutes, 48 seconds Yeah. 20:48 20 minutes, 48 seconds What uh what's your favorite thing about owning a home now? 20:51 20 minutes, 51 seconds It's quiet. It's the perfect I I still have to pinch myself. I do 20:58 20 minutes, 58 seconds because it's like I have my family with me. Yeah. 21:03 21 minutes, 3 seconds And I can enjoy and I can invite people over and it's ownership and I can do things to the walls. 21:12 21 minutes, 12 seconds Yeah. Pictures pictures. Nobody's going to tell you no. 21:16 21 minutes, 16 seconds Exactly. And if I want to move the picture, I can move the picture. I It's It's us. 21:22 21 minutes, 22 seconds Yeah. And you can have 10 million plants downstairs and in your own rainforest and it's okay. 21:28 21 minutes, 28 seconds Yeah. I mean that that's kind of how I was going to mention too. I'm like I can I can say this is mine. Yeah. 21:35 21 minutes, 35 seconds And I get to make the final say in I want this here. I want this here. Yeah. 21:40 21 minutes, 40 seconds And so on and so forth. And if there's ever an appliance or something, I can be like, "Oh, I have the right to say I want to change that." 21:48 21 minutes, 48 seconds Yeah. And I can remove it and do whatever. So, 21:51 21 minutes, 51 seconds it's and we have there were things that were in the home that we've taken out and not used because they weren't they didn't fit us 22:00 22 minutes and we've put in our own and it's like this is phenomenal cuz we've rented forever and so you really don't have that freedom. Yeah. 22:08 22 minutes, 8 seconds To do that. So, no, you paint. We got our own fridge. It was great. 22:14 22 minutes, 14 seconds I love that. Love it. Love it. I can tell the excitement and I love that. It uh it's a big deal. Well, okay. So looking back, is there anything you wish Chapter 11: Advice for Future Home Buyers 22:22 22 minutes, 22 seconds you'd known, you know, back in 2020 or or really at any point, but is there something looking back you wish you'd known before starting this process? 22:30 22 minutes, 30 seconds You I don't know. I wish we would have met actually we did we were we came to you earlier and it wasn't the right time. 22:38 22 minutes, 38 seconds Yeah. And you I that you told us. Yeah. And and we didn't feel the pressure. 22:43 22 minutes, 43 seconds Yeah. of we because you weren't involved then but we didn't feel the pressure that we needed to stay with you or you 22:52 22 minutes, 52 seconds know and you encouraged us actually to go shopping. Sure. 22:55 22 minutes, 55 seconds And look in other play and we did we did but this is where we ended up because this is where we needed to be and it was like 23:04 23 minutes, 4 seconds I I'm glad that you were here through the process. I'm glad that our realtor was knowledgeable enough about you to to 23:12 23 minutes, 12 seconds refer you to us and it was because when we didn't feel that pressure in the beginning we knew that that's where we wanted to go. 23:19 23 minutes, 19 seconds Sure. 23:20 23 minutes, 20 seconds It was like we didn't need to be bullied or anything or if we had a question we could call you or talk to you. You know you you would 23:27 23 minutes, 27 seconds sit down say okay this do this this you know but like you said you even look around told us look around. Sure. 23:34 23 minutes, 34 seconds But it just and we did. Mhm. We did. And there it just was. Yeah. I knew you'd come back. 23:40 23 minutes, 40 seconds Well, other places told us it. We just didn't get the service. Sure. Sure. That's what I would say. 23:46 23 minutes, 46 seconds Yeah. Good. Any advice then that you would give uh someone that's, you know, 23:51 23 minutes, 51 seconds renting right now and debating, you know, if they should buy and stuff like that? Any any uh any advice to those to those people? 23:59 23 minutes, 59 seconds It's not as terrifying. 24:01 24 minutes, 1 second I would say that I didn't think it was at all possible because of the way you know that you look at the world and way the economy is working right now. You 24:10 24 minutes, 10 seconds don't think you'd have the ability to which you certainly do. There are far more options than you would think nowadays. 24:17 24 minutes, 17 seconds And the fact that you can split it the way it is, I thought it was like you had to be married or you have to be single. 24:25 24 minutes, 25 seconds I didn't realize that this could be split as a family sort of situation. So, 24:29 24 minutes, 29 seconds I was very happy that that was available. Yeah. 24:32 24 minutes, 32 seconds And it's not a bad thing to look and compare. Sure. 24:39 24 minutes, 39 seconds Wherever you're going, like there's it's okay to take that first step. Yeah. 24:43 24 minutes, 43 seconds And if it doesn't work out, there's plenty of people to help you navigate wherever to go. Yeah. So, yeah. And don't be in a hurry. Yeah. 24:51 24 minutes, 51 seconds That's kind of what we were. We were like we like we said, we started in 2020. Mhm. 24:56 24 minutes, 56 seconds 2019, actually. And then um yeah and then and then it just never and 25:03 25 minutes, 3 seconds we did it slow slow but it we weren't in a big hurry. So just wait until you Well, it's got to feel right. 25:11 25 minutes, 11 seconds Yeah. You know the house has to feel right. 25:13 25 minutes, 13 seconds Where you're going has to feel right. If it doesn't, you're going to be miserable. Yeah. 25:17 25 minutes, 17 seconds You know, and I mean we looked at We looked a lot of houses. 25:21 25 minutes, 21 seconds We have a notebook full of all the homes we looked at. We didn't date them or sorry. should have brought it. It's a notebook and it's it's like 2/3 full. 25:29 25 minutes, 29 seconds Sure. Sure. 25:30 25 minutes, 30 seconds So, we've seen a lot of houses went to open, you know, but it just would drive by it. Nope. Don't just to look at it, you know. 25:37 25 minutes, 37 seconds And we're kind of rural people. We like I like the quiet. Yeah. 25:43 25 minutes, 43 seconds I didn't like fourlane highway out my back door. And Sure, I get it. 25:47 25 minutes, 47 seconds I couldn't hear couldn't hear yourself talking with the door open. And and so, 25:52 25 minutes, 52 seconds you know, and like that, you know, we've looked and looked and times I thought I would never get one. Yeah. 25:58 25 minutes, 58 seconds Yeah. Cuz we'd we'd go to a home and first thing we'd do is roll down the windows and just see what the what it was like. Interesting. 26:06 26 minutes, 6 seconds And and if we could hear traffic like there was one house we looked at in Lehi that was just it would have fit us. 26:13 26 minutes, 13 seconds Okay. 26:14 26 minutes, 14 seconds And we rolled down the windows and we're like, "Oh my gosh, we can hear a road. We can hear traffic. You can't see it, but we could hear it. And it was like, 26:22 26 minutes, 22 seconds nope, this is that's a that's a deal breakaker. For us, it was. Sure. 26:27 26 minutes, 27 seconds And so when we pulled up to this one and we rolled down the windows and we were like, "Wow." And then and then can I just tell them after we moved in, we uh 26:36 26 minutes, 36 seconds opened the windows, the back door in the morning to let the cool air in and everything. And we actually heard birds. 26:42 26 minutes, 42 seconds Oh. And we have not heard birds for years because it's been so noisy where we were living before 26:50 26 minutes, 50 seconds and it was like, "Wow, this is pretty amazing." 26:54 26 minutes, 54 seconds Yeah. Love that. Love that. So again, so so and maybe that's some advice you would give uh is is have some of those deal breakers things, right? You know, I mean, because 27:03 27 minutes, 3 seconds you mentioned, hey, for you it was the sound, right? And being next to a road. Some people might not care about that, 27:08 27 minutes, 8 seconds right? They're like, "Hey, I'd prefer the bigger house or, you know, the location." But for you that was a dealbreaker. And so I think just knowing what those deal breakers are. 27:16 27 minutes, 16 seconds Yes. 27:16 27 minutes, 16 seconds Helps. So then you're able to not waste time on houses that Oh. Nope. 27:20 27 minutes, 20 seconds Well, and I think that came to looking too because the more we looked, the more we knew what we wanted. Sure. Yeah. 27:26 27 minutes, 26 seconds So we weren't because we weren't in a hurry. Yeah. Yeah. We just looked. Well, we were in a hurry, but you know, 27:34 27 minutes, 34 seconds couldn't find it. 27:35 27 minutes, 35 seconds The hurry didn't happen until for until the last two two weeks. 27:40 27 minutes, 40 seconds Yeah. I mean, really, I was going to say the last year is what I felt. That's when like the crunch. 27:46 27 minutes, 46 seconds That's when I joined into the battle and I was like, "All right, let's figure this out." 27:50 27 minutes, 50 seconds Well, you came in to the picture in like April. Yeah. 27:54 27 minutes, 54 seconds And we bought the house March or April. But you asked me before that. Oh, okay. 27:58 27 minutes, 58 seconds That that's when I came in. I didn't start house hunting with you until April. Okay. 28:03 28 minutes, 3 seconds Cuz I figured I was just going to be on the mortgage and they were just going to have their house. 28:07 28 minutes, 7 seconds Sure. But then when I realized, why am I renting and gonna have this? Yep. Might as well get it all in one shot. And so, 28:15 28 minutes, 15 seconds well, that's the thing we were looking for. We were looking for a basement apartment. Yep. Yeah. 28:19 28 minutes, 19 seconds You know, whether she moved in or or somebody else. Yeah. 28:22 28 minutes, 22 seconds You know, but Well, and the benefit I that's partly why I like your story, too, is is I think it shows people that there's more than one way to to buy a house, right? 28:31 28 minutes, 31 seconds you know, so I think we're kind of locked into I mean, you mentioned like, hey, you have to be married or single or you know, like, you know, and so it's like, 28:37 28 minutes, 37 seconds well, okay, there's there's one way to do it and so no, there's not one way. 28:41 28 minutes, 41 seconds There's lots of ways and so this is a great way to show that, hey, there's there's another path. Yeah. Here, right? Get creative. 28:47 28 minutes, 47 seconds Get creative. Exactly. Yeah. And then you can make it happen. So, 28:50 28 minutes, 50 seconds if you guys could sum up your home buying experience in in, you know, one word or one sentence, what would you what would you say if you could sum it up? the actual home buying. 29:01 29 minutes, 1 second I think dad said it right when whirlwind. Whirlwind, but like a satisfying whirlwind. Satisfying whirlwind. 29:10 29 minutes, 10 seconds Satisfying whirlwind. I like it. I like it. Yep. I like it. 29:13 29 minutes, 13 seconds Okay. Uh any any any other advice or any other, you know, things you'd want to talk about as far as the experience goes and and things? Chapter 12: The Importance of Trust in the Home Buying Process 29:24 29 minutes, 24 seconds Just trust. Find people that you trust, 29:27 29 minutes, 27 seconds that you trust and that you can feel comfortable with because our we felt like through the whole process, 29:35 29 minutes, 35 seconds it was the realtor, it was you guys, it was others that were involved in the process that I feel like we can trust and that's a good feeling. 29:48 29 minutes, 48 seconds Y because you don't just need your friends house shopping for you. Yes. 29:53 29 minutes, 53 seconds Right. Right. And then when I when you hear stories of things that have happened with other people and you're going, "Oh my gosh, we have never 30:01 30 minutes, 1 second experienced that because we've had pretty phenomenal people in our corner helping us through this process." 30:09 30 minutes, 9 seconds Yeah. So the right people matter. Yes. The right people matter. Yeah. 30:15 30 minutes, 15 seconds You know, I mean I suppose that's in any field, right? You know, just because you have that title of whatever position that is, that doesn't mean you're actually good at it, right? You know, I mean, unfortunately, 30:24 30 minutes, 24 seconds you have to ask around. Yeah. Ask around. Don't be afraid to ask around. Like, 30:29 30 minutes, 29 seconds it's there's this mentality like once you start with one thing or one person, you're loyal to that person. Sure. 30:37 30 minutes, 37 seconds I don't know. I felt that it was appropriate to, you know, talk to other people to see and if you vibe with them because there's sometimes there's people that 30:46 30 minutes, 46 seconds we've met that have gone, you know, realtor shopping with a person and they're like, they didn't listen, right? Sure. So, 30:55 30 minutes, 55 seconds Sure. 30:55 30 minutes, 55 seconds It's like, well, then I don't think you have the right person helping you out. 30:58 30 minutes, 58 seconds 100%. Well, even with the mortgage companies, I mean, we we had a couple of experiences that we thought they were our friends and 31:07 31 minutes, 7 seconds and it was like, you know what, I just don't feel comfortable. Sure. 31:12 31 minutes, 12 seconds So, that was I mean, you've got to find who fits. Yeah. Mhm. You really do. 31:17 31 minutes, 17 seconds No, that makes sense. I And and I like that advice. You know, just because you started with them doesn't mean you have to keep going with them. 31:23 31 minutes, 23 seconds So, I think sometimes we do feel obligated, right? And so, yeah, but you don't have to. So, no. Love that. This has been great. I again, 31:30 31 minutes, 30 seconds I think you guys your story is great and I and I think this can help a lot of people, you know. Anything else um that you'd like to add or any any other Chapter 13: Final Thoughts and Encouragement 31:38 31 minutes, 38 seconds advice you'd give before we wrap things up? 31:40 31 minutes, 40 seconds Just buying a house is fun. It's a stressful fun time. 31:44 31 minutes, 44 seconds It's a stressful fun, but it's like that's why I'm losing all my hair. Yeah. Yeah. Before I met you, I mean, 31:50 31 minutes, 50 seconds before you came in, you had a full head of hair, right? You know, just a few years ago. Yeah. That was just then. Yeah. So, Oh, it uh Well, good. We're good. 31:59 31 minutes, 59 seconds Well, thank you. I appreciate you guys coming in and uh and I think uh this will help a lot of people. So, appreciate you. Good. Glad to help. So, yes. Glad to help. That's exactly it. 32:08 32 minutes, 8 seconds So, thank you. Thanks for tuning in to From Rents to Roots. I hope today's episode gave you insight, confidence, Chapter 14: Conclusion and Next Steps 32:14 32 minutes, 14 seconds and maybe even a little inspiration on your home ownership journey. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find it helpful. 32:24 32 minutes, 24 seconds And if you're ready to take the next step in buying a home or just have questions, reach out to me or my team at Workhard Mortgage. We'd love to help you 32:31 32 minutes, 31 seconds on your path to home ownership. Until next time, keep working hard, keep building your future, and we'll see you soon. Sync to video time
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