Home Sweet Home: David’s Homebuying Experience

By David Van Benthem, Realtor

Dear Mom, you were right: home buyers edition.

I look back and laugh when I think about buying my first home. I was 24 years old and had been working for a couple of years. I had a pretty comfortable setup living in my parent’s basement in Charleswood. My mom told me about an open house in the neighborhood and that I should check it out, I guess it was her way of giving me a subtle hint.

It crossed my mind that I would have to leave eventually so I decided to check it out. I didn’t spend too long, it was a quick walkthrough and I wasn’t overly impressed with the show. It was like I walked onto the set of That ‘70s Show with green shag carpet, velvet wallpaper, leopard print curtains, you get the idea.

I returned home and scoffed at the idea of buying that house. My mom shared some advice about home buying, look past the surface cosmetics of the place and focus on the structure and layout of the home.

It was a 1700 SQFT bungalow that’s perfect for entertaining or hosting roommates. The surface cosmetics could easily be changed and not cost me an arm and a leg. A little bit of paint, updated fixtures, and new furniture would completely change the feel of the home.

I went back and looked at it a second time and understood what my mom was talking about. It was a great home with a ton of potential!

I preferred the idea of investing in real estate as opposed to renting so I made an offer, not really thinking it would come to fruition. The next day, I got a call from the agent and was told I was a homeowner. I got a great deal and lived in that home for 10 years (I replaced the green shag, but not immediately, it was perfect for practicing my chipping!).

Whether you’re looking to buy your first home or 50th, give me a call and I would be happy to help.