How I Bought My Dream Home at Age 24

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By Jazzmynn Finney

Home buying is no thirty minute special and I learned this throughout my process. I always wanted to be a homeowner. My mom owned 12 houses at one point. I wanted to follow in her footsteps so I began searching as soon as I graduated from college. I had been in the home buying process for 3 years before I found the house of my dreams. This journey started in Cleveland. I was under contract for a duplex for $26,000…Can you say INCOME PROPERTY! I was using the FHA 203k loan to fix minor issues in the home. I voided the contract because the bank in which I was in contract with didn’t actually own the home. The contractor was in bed with my mortgage company. My realtor was less than competent. I ended the search in Cleveland and just rented for about 8 month, then I made the big move to Atlanta.

I always knew Atlanta is where I wanted to be so I had been searching for homes here since college. I had a realtor (who I eventually fired). I had been preapproved for a loan with a mortgage company ( I eventually fired her too) . I felt like Diddy for a bit. I was referred to an excellent realtor named Nikki Johnson and she was the perfect balance. She knew about the first time home buying process and I could call her in the middle of the night when I was worried about anything. I frantically searched for a home because I didn’t want to rent and a series of short term living situations weren’t the most desirable.

I went to a party at an art gallery in Castleberry Hill. I fell in love with the Live-Work space at the gallery. There was a storefront and a loft area was on the second floor. I went back to view the property to find that it was totally out of my range at close to $250,000. The onsite agent showed me the residential condos above. I fell in love all over again with a bi-level “penthouse” condo with two bedroom two bathroom and a rooftop deck. With sweeping views of downtown including the Georgia Dome, and views of the mountains, I knew I had to have it but the numbers looked less than promising. Four contracts, four realtors, three mortgage offices, two cities, and countless dollars later I have the house of my dreams. I went through hell and high water to prove my eligibility for this home. All the hard work paid off.

Throughout this journey I learned a lot about myself and about the home buying process. My message to folks: Do your homework. Don’t assume that the professionals will know everything. Double check everything yourself! You will have buyer’s remorse. Make sure you have a plan for dealing with the overwhelming process of buying a home. Don’t let everyone run your credit and even if they do you are not obligated to stay with them. DO NOT USE FAMILY during the home buying process. Of course, talk to them about their experience but hire professionals to help you. Keep it simple, everyone has an opinion about what you should do but do your own research. I was told that I couldn’t afford my home, but through my own diligence I found $40,000 in forgivable down payment assistance. Never take “no” for an answer, you can always negotiate. Finally, enjoy the process, be patient and you can have the house you have always imagined. And they say you can’t get everything you want in your first home.

Jazzmynn is a 20-something living in Atlanta after quitting her job in Cleveland to follow her dreams of launching a women’s clothing line. Follow her on twitter.

Tags: buying a house in your 20's, dream home, first home, first home buyer, how to buy first home