There’s a First Time for Everything
Hello blog readers, I’m Michelle. I belong to Generation Y, also known as a Millennial, an Echo Boomer, etc. I am part of a generation of people who are always on the go and frankly, I fit perfectly in this group. We want instant and who can blame us when it’s all around us! Instant email, instant messaging, instant coffee, on demand movies; everything around us can be done in the blink of an eye. So when I decided I was ready to move forward with the next part of my life and become a first-time home buyer, I figured it would be a process but not a long one. Look at places, find one you like, get approved for a mortgage, put in an offer and sign away your life. Presto, you’re done! Pack up your stuff, call for a moving company or any family/friends that suckered you into helping them move and be on your way. I was so wrong! There is much more to the process then you might realize. No matter all the research and advice I got, I really didn’t know what it was like till I dove in headfirst.
But before I get into that, I’ll tell you a little bit about myself.
A little background on me…I graduated from UMass Lowell a few years ago. Since then I have been part of the ever-growing statistic. We’ve all heard the story…more and more college graduates are moving back in or staying home with the parents after graduation. And yes, I was no different. Worked hard for four years and still had to come home to mom and dad (whom I love very much and appreciate them letting their little girl live at home while she figured out her life). But nonetheless, it was incredibly frustrating to still be at home without a steady job. Before I was 25 I was laid off twice. Twice! I will let that sink in for a second because that statement is still shocking to me. It was hard to believe and even harder to keep motivating myself to keep moving forward. It seemed like every time I took a step forward; I then took 3 giant leaps back. Instead of the “Advance to Park Place” card I kept getting dealt the “Get laid off, find another job, go directly to unemployment, do not pass go, do not collect $200″ card. I thought a college education was supposed to help you get a job, not take one away from you. At any rate, this constant in and out of work kept me from achieving what I wanted. Yes, I could have easily moved out and rented a place but for me, that wasn’t really an option. Especially with the way the housing marking was going, interest rates down and home prices dropping, there was no way I was going to pass up on this opportunity to own a piece of property.
So now that you have some history, let’s fast-forward to present day. I’m out of my house and in my first place. Woohoo! It wasn’t an easy process by any means. It was a long, hard, dark, cold (legit cold) road at times but the result I got is amazing. I want to share my experiences with you. Why? Because I know how difficult this process is and if I can share some of my experiences and shed even a little bit of light for someone else, it would make my day.
I want to prep this by saying I am no expert. I don’t have a real estate license, I didn’t study real estate law, and I don’t read real estate magazines etc. My experience is purely that I am a first time homebuyer. That’s it. Plain and simple. My goal is to help you and make sure that you don’t go crazy thinking you are the only one these things are happening to. Because I can guarantee that I probably had a similar experience as you. With that, let the journey begin!
Michelle is a recent business school graduate, first time home buyer and lifelong Massachusetts resident. Though she's all Generation Y, we think of her as a modern-day Mary Tyler Moore. She plans to share her experiences as a new home owner, and give us her fresh take on Greater Boston area local events, activities and happenings. She's gonna make it after all!
