Issue #108: A Sneak Peek at My New House (!) and the Buying Process

Every single closing cost and 3 tips for buyers.

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On my first morning in my new house, I stepped barefoot onto my back patio. The forecast promised a hot day, but at that point, it was still cold and quiet. Toast trotted ahead of me, curiously examining his backyard, as I gripped my warm mug of coffee and took a seat on the edge of the deck’s platform, listening to the still unfamiliar sounds of a Sunday morning in my new neighborhood. Crows, a rustle of leaves from my (!) Japanese maple already turning red for fall, a conversation too far away to make out. I closed my eyes and let the gratitude wash over me as I realized: I’ve never loved somewhere I’ve lived. Before this.

Issue #104: Why (and How) I'm Buying a House of My Own

When my ex and I bought our house together in 2020, it was largely because it “made sense.” Low interest rates created a frenzy to purchase, and we used money we had access to for our down payment. To me, it was a smart investment where we would have enough space and stability to have a baby. The moment we moved in, I began making improvements, figuring I would love it as soon as we smoothed the walls in the living room, added a gas fireplace, put in A/C, took the large coat rack/box out of the entryway, added wallpaper, painted the bathroom, added tile and a fence. The improvements were nice, but they never helped me feel as grateful as I should have been. It’s why Liz Gilbert’s realization about her house at the start of Eat, Pray, Love hit me like a wakeup call, “I had actively participated in every moment of the creation of this life—so why did I feel like none of it resembled me?” After a year and half in that house, I never felt the sense of ease or accomplishment that I did my first morning in my new home. That house felt like a stepping stone, where this has been a landing place. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more grateful… or done anything more difficult.