Major S&T Life Updates!!
Jo here!
As you have probably seen all over IG… A LOT has happened for me in the past few months! So I thought I would do a Q&A style blog post to spill the details and BTS around my exciting life updates.
As always, if you have any other specific questions feel free to send us a DM or email so we can answer xo!
First update: We bought a house!
Connor and I purchased our first home together at the end of August. It was a crazy journey but this is something that has been a top priority for both of us, and we’re so excited to have finally hit this milestone in our lives. We toured our home on a Sunday and ended up submitting an offer within 24 hours. We received a counter offer, countered back and then our offer was finally accepted. Things were falling into place especially timing wise, which made me feel like it was truly meant to be. Our lease in Corona del Mar was coming up over Labor Day Weekend and we closed on our house a week and a half before that so it was perfect!
We moved into our new place the last week of August and have been working hard to make it feel like a home the last month or so. We’re finally starting to feel settled in, but have a lot of things we want to do to really make it really feel like it’s our own space.
How’d you know or decide you were ready to buy?
I feel like I’ve been ready to buy for the last two years or so. I couldn’t stand writing a rent check every month knowing I wasn’t building any equity in a home. Connor was on the same page and we both agreed it was something we were going to work towards together. It felt like we were on a constant house hunt - always browsing online to look at new listings, going to open houses and driving around neighborhoods. It took a long time to find something that checked almost all of our boxes, in a good location and was within in our budget.
Any saving tips?
Our budget doc has helped me so much over the past few years. I’ve been using it since I graduated college (linked here - make a copy and save). Buying a home has always been at the forefront of my mind for as long as I can remember so I’d prioritize putting money towards my “home fund” rather than spending it on instant gratification type of purchases. I’m really frugal with my money, and personally feel more inclined to save for long-term goals and purchases, which really helped me put away a chunk of $$ every month.
Did you have specific areas in mind you were looking at?
Yes, 100%. I think it’s important to narrow down your search or else it gets really overwhelming. We knew we wanted to be in either Newport Beach or Eastside Costa Mesa. We had our Zillow notifications set up so we would get updates every day and would actively check what was new on the market.
Favorite sites (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc)?
Zillow by far - I think it’s my most used app actually haha! I like the user interface of it and think it’s the most user friendly overall, especially on mobile.
What are important qualities to you in a real estate agent?
Someone who is extremely familiar with the specific area we were buying in. We wanted someone who would advocate for us and get the deal done as seamlessly as possible. We ended up working with an agent who we recognized from seeing her name on listing signs all over the neighborhood, and knew that with her expertise and industry knowledge she would fight for us. She was really helpful when it came to the due diligence period as well, and had several referrals and connections that helped streamline the process.
What were your non-negotiables in a house when you were looking?
The neighborhood was the number one thing for me - safety, walkability and proximity to stores, fitness studios, etc. In terms of the house itself, our requirements were front/backyard, turn key (so we didn't have to go through interior renovations) and at least 3BR+ since I WFH and we host people a lot. There were definitely some concessions we had to make (like I wish our master closet was a walk-in) but they were minor, not a necessity type of things so the pros far outweighed any of the cons.
What surprised you the most during the home-buying process?
How much time it really takes up - between financing, escrow, inspections, corresponding with agents, etc. we were spending SO much more time than I had anticipated. It felt like a full time job. Not to mention, we read through every single line of every contract… that’s what happens when your fiance is in real estate lol. Obviously important to thoroughly read everything but it was a grueling process reviewing documents. I would also say the lack of punctuality we’ve experienced from all of our handy men, electricians, plumbers, etc. has been so surprising. Like they will give an arrival window of 12 to 2pm so I clear my work schedule accordingly, and then they show up at 3pm when I’m in the middle of a meeting. It’s crazy!
Any renovations planned?
Yes! We are actually in the process of consulting with companies to renovate the whole exterior of our house. We are planning to re-paint the exterior, get a new front door, and all new landscape/hardscape to modernize the space. We’re really looking forward to being involved and hands on in the process!
