Chronicles of a First-Time Home Buyer - Vol. 1: Jitters.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

So it's come to be the time in my life where I start thinking about buying a backyard for the doodles (and a corresponding house of some sort too). Yes that's right, I'm investing in real estate for the doodles. Ok, that's not entirely true, they say owning a home is a good investment, and it would be really nice to have a garden and a barbeque, and a little more space. However, the idea of being responsible for a house is scary business to me. Who do I call when something breaks? Who's going to shovel the snow and mow the lawn? What am I going to do with 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms? Who's going to clean them? Do houses come with little elves that do all of this for you?

What if I hear creepy noises coming from the basement at night??

 

What if something goes wrong with the house and something goes wrong with a doodle all at once I can't afford to fix both??

See? Scary!

 

What I'm really worried about is the commute. I currently live in a two bedroom apartment that is less than 20 minutes from work on foot. I love the walk, unless the weather is crummy, and if so there's a bus at my front door, or I can splurge for a parking spot for the day. I often come home at lunch time to visit the doodles and take them out for a quickie walk. Doing so is the best part of my day. It gets me away from my computer, saves me money because I grab some food at home, and seeing my doodles halfway through the day always lightens my mood. This is also useful when Sophie's tummy is on the fritz.

 

The neighbourhood ain't bad either. Hundred year old homes; pubs, restaurants, and shops (some dog friendly ones too) all just blocks away; multiple daily walks along the beautiful rideau canal, lots of parks close by, lots of friends who live in the area (some I even met at the dog park).

The down side of apartment living? NO backyard, which means standing in the dog park everydayeven in snow storms, because the doodles can't stay cooped up in an apartment all day long. Having to get dressed at midnight, 2am, 4am, 6am, to take Sophie out for a walk when she has an IBS flare up (especially not fun when it's -30 outside). Lazy landlords who keep raising rent and don't do anything for you. Not being allowed to paint. The world's smallest kitchen. Oh, and don't let me get started on the crazy lady who lives below me who's always complaining about something, and telling me how to train my dogs when hers is a total disaster. And worst of all, the 87 year old lady who lived there for 45 years, lost her marbles, and passed away alone a few weeks ago. Is this my future if I stay here??

(Picture this with doodles instead of cats)

I have to get out of this apartment!!

 

After meeting some potential real estate agents, and doing some browsing through the online listings, I've basically narrowed down my options for home ownership to this:

• A highrise or lowrise condo downtown within walking distance to work (can visit doodles at lunch time but there will be no backyard)
• A very old home that will need a lot of upgrades that I likely can't afford but is a very short drive/bus ride to work (could do a lunch time doodle run in a pinch, and the commute is shorter which means more time for doodles).
• A much nicer/newer/bigger house in the burbs, that would require an approximately 30-45 minute commute - and no lunch time doodle fixes. (Leaving me doodle-less for at 9-10 hours/day and the doodles are cooped up too long). Plus, the driving and parking expenses would sort of add to the cost of moving to the burbs, and living in the burbs might be a bit isolating for me.

 

So, I am getting jittery about the whole thing and I have already considered packing it in and looking for a place to rent that has a back yard - but even that will be next to impossible with two big dogs. All I know is if I put it off I will thoroughly regret it once winter starts rolling around next year. I just don't want to do another winter without a backyard.

 

I am really only at beginning stages of thinking about this right now. I still need to get a pre-approval for a mortgage, and really start narrowing down the neighbourhoods I could live in. It's also early in the season, listings usually peak in the summer months so there is lots of time.

 

Stay tuned for Volumes 2 and 3 of the Chronicles of a First-Time Home Buyer- "Indecision" and "Cold Feet". In the meantime, all home ownership advice, include doodle-friendly house features, are welcome.

 

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

How exciting!  Do keep us posted on what you decide to do.  You will LOVE having your own yard for your doods.  My only advice really is to take your time and also make sure you get the house inspected well.  Remember...whatever needs done around the house you can pay somebody to do pretty much (if you had do), but yes, it can get expensive when things go wrong.  Try to enjoy it (even though I'm sure you'll be nervous).

[Christine & Shelby]

Oh how I remember this process (almost 7 years ago for me now)... it was stressful initially, but I found a good realtor who focused on 1st time buyers and it was great.  I didn't know how to describe what I wanted other than my price range and NOT a fixer uper!   She took me out one day to a bunch of houses (all different types) and told me to just talk and tell her all the things I liked and especially things I didn't like.   This helped her figure out what I was looking for.   Then our second outing - she chose the houses she thought I'd enjoy and we went from there.   I loved the experience.  I didn't have a doodle then, but I do now and the yard is great.  Shelby has a dog door and can go out while I am at work (I have a padlock on my gate).   I look forward to volume 2...  I can't imagine having a doodle without a yard... I don't know how you do it!   If you can handle that - you can handle buying a home!!!!   :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Start looking now, even if you don't end up buying.  See what truly is out there.  Perhaps a condo WITH a yard???

[Gail Vinnal]

I am an agent and ABR (acredited buyers rep)in NJ so this is not a bid for business  Relax and enjoy, I know this is one of the most stressful things you can do but you may only buy once so try to get some pleasure out of the experience.  First Time Hombuyers are my specialty so if you have any questions or concerns I'd be happy to try to help.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We just bought our first house a year ago. Biggest advice (echoing others) is to get a really good agent. Our agent made us look at our house - I didn't like the look from the outside. He made us go in!  That's the house we bought!  It was an estate sale - showed terribly.  Wall paper coming off the wall, old furniture - you ge tthe point.  But under all that, i saw gleaming hardwoods and a great layout.  All it took was paint and voila!  Perfection!  Good luck to you!!!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

How exciting and very scary too.  My only advice is find a realtor and wait until you find the 'right' property.  Place your priorities on a list of what you will and won't compromise on.  They say buying a house is right  up there on the list of stressful life events.  We will all be here to add our tuppenceworth of advice but at the end of the day you will make the decision and based on what I know of you here you will make the right one... Good Luck in your search.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Occasionally I saw ads for newly renovated small homes downtown, but we weren't really looking downtown so we didn't go see them.  I agree with the others though that the financial side of things comes first.

If you're looking to stay away from neighborhoods with young families, then I'd stay away from new developments.  We're in one and there are children EVERYWHERE (on my lawn, in my driveway, in the street...)  - almost exclusively young families.  I would imagine all the other similar developments are the same.

A few areas that had reasonably-priced homes (but were too old for my fiance's liking):

- South Keys - A rough neighborhood (gangs etc.) in general, but there are some nice areas.  My real estate agent said that it's a little safer further away from the mall (more in the Greenboro area than south keys itself).  She sort of scared us away from settling there though.

- Heron/Herongate and Hawthorne Meadows (houses built in the '50s and '60s, very close to Alta Vista area which is super expensive, but the houses are way better priced)

- Carson Grove/Carson meadows and Beacon Hill (some VERY expensive homes here, but there are some smaller more reasonably-priced ones tucked away; the area was very quiet looking with mature trees)

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Sherrie, My advice on this is when you are ready to buy get a buyer's real estate agent (if there is such a thing where you are).  Give the agent a list of what you want as to house, yard, location, price, etc.  They will show you the houses that fit your criteria.  A  good agent is invaluable.  Even my DH, who likes to do everything himself, used one on the last two houses we bought.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Sherri, I'm so excited for you.  I don't have much to add to all this great advice, but finding the right realtor who understands what you're looking for and can the "leg work" would be helpful. 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

How exciting Sherri but certainly a LOT to think about.  We are lucky because we have a walk out basement and I was able to install a doggie door panel in our sliding glass door that allows the dogs access to a 10x12 area of doggie turf to go potty during the day when we are at work. 

We opted to go with the cheaper, older home when we bought ours (a 1970's bi-level complete with yards and yards of wallpaper, shag carpet, and an olive green bathtub, toilet, and sink!!).  We spent a LOT of time doing the work ourselves, with the help of my dad, but saved a LOT of money doing it that way.  You seem like a strong, independent woman to me so I would say that if the house is structurally and mechanically sound, you shouldn't be afraid of a little cosmetic work.  So what if you have to live with ugly walls, old cabinets, or an outdated bathroom until the funds are available. 

You should start figuring out what you can reasonably afford (figure that out before you go to get pre-approved because the banks seem to think that you can afford a lot more than you realistically can).  Also think about what would make you happier...a nice new home that comes with a commute or an older home with character that you can make your own.  The dogs would probably enjoy a yard, but they will really be happy where you are.  Take a look at the neighborhoods too, which ones give you the best "I'm at home" feeling?