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Absolutely, and I’m not just saying this because I’m an agent myself. In fact, I’ve been in your shoes before. Before I became a real estate agent, I purchased not one, but two homes.
My first home-buying adventure took place when I was just 19 years old. I bought a little place for $94,150, and I’ll never forget that $150. It was a crucial amount during the negotiations, and my agent at the time made sure it counted. I held onto that home for a solid five years. Let me tell you, as a first-time homebuyer, I was clueless, but my real estate agent was my guiding light. I stumbled upon this house on the very first day I started looking. It had just hit the market, and to me, it was beautiful, even if it was a bit of a fixer-upper. My agent not only fronted the $150 but also steered me away from other tempting options that were out of my modest budget. She helped me stay on track and make that place my first home. Eventually, I sold it during my mortgage renewal to save on fees.
Fast forward to my second home-buying adventure at the age of 28. My then-fiancé and I were living in a rental outside of Burks Falls when we received an eviction notice because the owners were moving back in. We had a mere two months to find and close on a house; otherwise, we’d be homeless. And let me tell you, in the Almaguin Highlands, finding rentals is like searching for a needle in a haystack. So, with no rental options in sight, we had to buy a house, and we had to buy it pronto. Once again, it was a whirlwind one-day house hunt. We teamed up with our agent, checked out three properties, and my husband instantly fell head over heels for the third one. He walked in, saw the kitchen cabinet knobs, and declared, “I LOVE THIS HOUSE.” I needed a bit more convincing, of course, like counting bedrooms, inspecting the basement, and all that jazz, but we went for it. One day of looking, and we became homeowners.
Our agent was an absolute lifesaver during this house hunt. She only showed us properties that could realistically close before our eviction date, stayed within our budget, and didn’t waste any time. I had this one property in mind outside of Sprucedale that I insisted on seeing, even though she knew it was a real fixer-upper. She showed it to us but pointed out all the work that needed to be done, which saved us a ton of money and countless hours of sweat equity.
Now, as a real estate agent myself, I strive to help my clients set realistic boundaries and goals for their house-hunting journey. Buying a house without an agent is like tightrope-walking without a safety net. But having been both an agent and a homeowner, I’ve gathered years of experience and learned what works and what doesn’t. I know which home inspectors to trust and which ones to take with a grain of salt. I can connect you with mortgage brokers who can get you the best rates, and when things hit a rough patch (as they sometimes do), I’ve got not only myself but also my broker (AKA my boss) to help steer through any troubled waters. So, rest assured, you’re in safe hands with a knowledgeable agent like me.