Love and the First-Time Buyer

It's a great experience, helping a first-time buyer find a "worthy" first-time home. My client and her finance knew what they wanted - sort of.

The first one we looked (and they saw possibilities) looked like a crime scene. I wasn't sure if what I was seeing on the floor (cement) was blood or paint.

Then we got a little more serious. Found a charming house - but it was a little too small. Found another prospect - but decided that the neighborhood might not be the best for them over time. Found another - but somebody got there before we did. And so on and so forth - again and again. A day late and a dollar short.

Then we found a bank-owned property - needed a little work but not much. Looked good. Went to see another in a different neighborhood before we made an offer - and liked the looks of that one too. While we were going back and forth, make an offer or don't - the PERFECT house came back on the market.

Great location. Great price. A short sale back on the market after losing buyer #1 - and one of those where you can plug in the next buyer and keep on moving forward (I love that kind). Absolutely charming home - good floorplan, all appliances included, nice paint colors, more for the money than anything else we'd seen. Sellers had taken great care of the property so any maintenance issues were minor. And no wait to speak of.

And we got it. Sweet couple - in love with each other and with their first home together. Took a little more elbow grease to clean up than it looked like at first - but that's typical. Happy beginning for young love.