New Home!

My wife and I are in our 50s and have purchased a dozen houses together over the past 22 years. Last week, we closed on what is only the second of those twelve houses to serve as our primary home!

Last week’s closing marked the end of over five-years searching for a new home. Once we made the decision to retire from the military and put some roots down in our current area back in 2018, we immediately set to work looking. Maybe not a “forever home,” but definitely a very long-time home.  We’ve missed good real estate markets and plenty of opportunities. I’ve blogged previously about the challenges of our home search, most of the challenges were self-inflicted. More recently the high prices and general oddity of the current real estate market made the endeavor even more difficult.

But in June it finally happened. We came across the right home, in the right location, at the right price and at the right time for us financially. One thing we learned over the last five years, if the facts are pointing towards “go”, then don’t hesitate. We were fortunate to go under contract back in June.

Although it was a 70+ day closing per the seller’s request, and the purchase had all the bumps in the road that a real estate deal typically does, the buying process was all in all very smooth. Even managed to get a rate in the mid 5’s, not too bad nowadays. Last Wednesday at closing was a big day for our family!

The home is beautiful and nicer than anywhere we have ever lived. Nevertheless, we are planning a few small projects to make it our own. Additionally, I am trying to get my head wrapped around all the tasks required to maintain a home of this caliber! However, fate prepared us for this moment. Searching for five years enabled us to build capital and once we sell our former residence we will be set to care for this home as it should be for the foreseeable future.

Now comes my least favorite part, moving! We are using our final military move from retirement to move our household about five miles down the road. Seems like overkill considering military moves are designed for generally long distances! Despite my military background, I don’t enjoy moving and will be glad when this part of the ordeal is over. Perhaps it’s the boxes, packing tape and general disorder that accompanies a move. Maybe it’s just the physical exertion required to move about 15,000 pounds of stuff! As I type away on this blog, I am covered in sweat from moving several items earlier today in the blazing August heat!

If there is a lesson to be shared in our home buying journey it is that patience is truly a virtue. The past five years searching for a home have been fraught with disappointment, anxiety and at times a bit of hopelessness, but we didn’t give up. We both believe that our Maker provides a way, sometimes maybe not the way we would prefer. This summer He led us to this home. We don’t know what the future holds, but for now we are very thankful and excited about today…and that is a very happy place to be!

Looking for a good how-to on wealth building? Check out my book, Millionaire on a Worker’s Budget: Five Financial Truth’s to Build Wealth on sale now at Amazon!

Interested in rental property investing? Look for “Collect Rent, Don’t Pay It: A Beginner’s Guide to Rental Property Investing” on Amazon to learn how our family turned rental property investing into a successful side hustle!

The views, opinions and biases expressed in this blog are the authors and do not reflect those of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

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