Homebuying | What to know before buying waterfront property

Buying a waterfront home is a really exciting prospect! Who wouldn't want to wake up every morning and look at a beautiful sunrise over the water? However, finding what you want in a competitive market can be a real challenge, especially when options are limited and the prices are steep.

Southeastern Michigan is a fairly competitive place to buy, even more so on a lake. Good homes on lakes are snapped up within a few hours of being listed (often not even good ones). I did lots of research about what lakes were good to live on, which ones were all-sports, and which were private and public access while I was looking. 

I found that different lakes had different price points to get different amenities (shorter commute, better school district, better views and lot sizes, etc.). These were all things I had to weigh into the equation vs. the size of my housing budget when I was house hunting. Some of the biggest factors when I was house hunting for something waterfront boiled down to the following:

Homebuying | A First Time Buyer's Perspective

There is a perfect storm right now to buy a house- a global pandemic is driving people to work from home, record low interest rates, and a presidential election underway is creating a political climate driving people to grab something. 

// START EARLY

My experience saving and buying for a house as a single woman was not a quick or easy sprint; in fact, I started saving for a house when I started working my first professional job right out of school. When I got paid I would immediately transfer money into my savings account with a "House Fund" note on it. This made it automatic and I didn't miss it when I tucked it away right when I got paid. (I probably could have automated my savings, but it was more fun to actually do it and write that it was for my house someday.)

Even though I had a million other priorities at the moment- travel, student loans, furnishing a new apartment- I knew that I had a dream to buy a house someday, and if I didn't start planning for it early, I wasn't going to be able to do it when I wanted to! (And when I wandered across a house someday, I wanted to be ready to jump on it!)

// TAKE YOUR TIME

Eventually I relocated to Metro Detroit, an area where I thought I could see myself living for the long haul. Even though I have lived in Michigan for my whole life (except for a couple brief stints elsewhere), I did not live in the Detroit area. I decided initially to get an apartment so I could get to know the area and figure out where I wanted to live. 

Renting for a year was probably the best thing I could have done! If I would have bought sight unseen, I would have started looking at houses in maybe Royal Oak or something (very great places). But I would have really limited myself because there are lots of cute towns in that area that also have a lot to offer that I found by actually living there. 

Buying a house is a massive investment and you don't want to buy, then realize you are in an area that gets all the traffic or just generally have remorse and realize your place doesn't fit your lifestyle.  

//GET QUALIFIED

Southeastern Michigan, where I looked for roughly a year, is a fairly competitive region to purchase a home. Often homes are snapped up within hours of being listed. I did a lot of research upfront to know where I wanted to be, saved aggressively (packed a lot of work lunches), and found a realtor and mortgage broker to help me with the details to get all the paperwork in order to make sure I was prequalified and ready so I could write an offer when I found THE ONE. 

Fall is calling

 

I love fall in Michigan! I spotted this barn and was so touched by the care someone took to hang this massive flag on the side of their barn. I'm getting better at appreciating the little things around me.

You don't have to go home but you can't stay here

"Celebrate endings, for they precede new beginnings."-Jonathan Lockwood Huie

While I was house hunting, my lease for my beloved apartment ended and reverted to a month to month lease. This was actually really great! It meant when I found a house I would have the quick flexibility to get out of my apartment when I did find a house. 

Finding a house that needs so much work came down to choices- stay in the apartment and pay a rent and mortgage, or move back home and use that spare cash for all the wonderful things I'm going to put into this new house? Well, was a no brainer- I'm headed home for a couple months!

I'm a Homeowner!

I bought a house! It was one of the longest adventures of my life but a learned a lot...and I still have a long way to go BUT I AM SO HAPPY!
 

I started searching for a house in southeast Michigan last summer, learning about the homebuying process, learning more about the region and honing in on what place fit my vibe the best. At the same time, I was having at great summer with my friends learning how to learning how to wakesurf on the area lakes, I started to think...is it possible? Could I live on the water down here? 

Well, after a year of looking, my dream is REAL! 

I'm excited to turn it into my dream home, and so, so happy. Many more updates to come...

The Lockdown Life

There is a silver lining to every cloud. With everyone in quarantine lockdown right now, it's given me a chance to get back to things I haven't had a chance to do in years. Granted, it is tough because so many things are closed- everything is closed unless it's "necessary to sustain life," so no restaurants, gyms, etc. 

I have had a chance to read some books that I've been meaning to finish, I ordered a new sewing sampler online and learned some new stitches (I haven't sewed a sampler since I was about eight), and I even planted some veggies. Now the challenge is keeping them alive!

2020 | New Decade, Same Me

 Aaaand...another year is here! Except this time we are starting a fresh new decade! I can't believe how quickly the years start to fly by, it seems like yesterday I was in school, now here I am going on four years out of graduate school. I'm excited to see what this year will bring. I spent the evening with a big buffet of food, margaritas, movies and watching the ball drop. (hey, it was cold outside!)

I did have a pretty eventful New Years Day 2020! I woke up to a strangely cheerful text from my landlord (note the emojis)-