by Mary Murck

Created on: March 09, 2009

I was in my thirties, single, with a fairly good job. I had never really aspired to be a homeowner. It was the late 1980s and everyone I knew seemed to be buying houses. I lived in a quiet neighborhood in the city, in an apartment that was a bit rundown, but had a great location and was very comfortable. I met with a financial adviser to try and decide how to invest in my future and she told me the best thing I could do, was to buy a house,

My best friend lived in my neighborhood. He and I decided to start looking at houses in the area. We walked the neighborhood on weekends, going to open houses. At first, it was just like a game, nosing around those houses, but it did get me ready for the biggest purchase I would make. We probably went to more than 50 open houses that summer and fall. Some were too big, others too small, others too much of a mess. I figured out that I definitely wanted something "move-in ready," as I wasn't very handy.

Winter put a hold on the open houses, and then a couple moved in across the hall from me, and their constant fighting got me to start seriously thinking I might like my own house. If nothing else, I wanted to get away from the noise of their arguments. I was ready to house-hunt in earnest! My sister-in-law's good friend was realtor and I met with her. She asked me so many questions about what I wanted, what I liked, what I could live with, and all those things. It started to feel like I actually might do it.

She and I met after work frequently. She would take me to houses and I would look at everything and find things I didn't like. I think she was pretty patient with me, and told me it helped her hone in on the ones I would like. Finally, a two story home with an office downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs, and an old-fashioned kitchen caught my eye. The wood work was beautiful, and there was a built-in buffet. I put in a bid the day we looked at it! The following day, she brought me the paperwork saying they had made a very reasonable counter-offer. I, however, had gotten cold feet and just couldn't do it. Much to my realtor's dismay, I turned it down. We kept looking.

Finally, after a few dozen more houses I found THE ONE! It was totally emotional. I walked in the door, and everything I wanted was there. There was the older part, charming and sweet, and the new addition a great room that was a modern show-stopper. I knew I had my home. We put in a bid, and there were other bids, too. The couple selling it really helped me. I think they knew I would love their home. They had done lots of the work themselves and loved the place, the neighborhood and everything. It has been a wonderful home and I'm glad I was so choosy about buying my first (and only) home!

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