A few weeks ago, we posted about an episode of "My First Home" that focused on San Francisco newlyweds. On Saturday, TLC returned to the Bay Area to follow an Oakland couple as they looked for a nest:
"Artists Rita and Marie want to buy a home and get married in its garden. They search the Internet and find the perfect place in Oakland, CA. After a flurry of negotiating and some bad news at the house inspection, they may just get their wish."
The narrator tells us that the couple has narrowed their search to the East Bay, partly because it's more affordable.
Median home price in San Francisco: $784,000
Median home price in Oakland: $502,000
Their wish list when they meet with the real estate agent? They want 2-3 bedrooms, a family-friendly neighborhood and a backyard. Rita is a photographer, so a studio/dark room is also key.
Next, they talk to the mortgage broker. We liked that this episode delved into points and other loan issues. With a 700+ credit score and a 15-20 percent down payment, Rita and Marie are pre-approved for a $560,000 purchase.
The pair end up falling head-over-heels with the first house they see. And even after some problems come up during the inspection (e.g., a $15,000 French drain will be needed within a few years), they do indeed buy the place.
This piqued our curiosity: Have any of you experienced love at first sight with a rental or purchase? Was there one particular feature that convinced you that this was *it*? Did you overlook any negatives because you were so enamored?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I can always tell right away if an apartment is meant to be. For me, love at first sight requires a) lots and LOTS of light, and b) an open, airy feeling. I have had two apartments in my life that I have loved-- the first one was my grad school apartment, where I lived for 5 years, and the second is our current apartment, which we just bought. When I walked into this apartment I knew it was "the one" even though I had SWORN I wouldn't buy a TIC in an Ellised building. One look at the huge, south-facing windows and the airy, modern layout and I fell in love. We have fractionalized loans, but we are prevented from condo-converting for at least 5 years. So financially it's a bit more of a risk than a condo might be-- but I've been in the apartment for 6 days now and it already feels like home. I'm already fantasizing about living there for a decade-- and who knows where crazy SF conversion laws will take us then?
I think it's always best to listen to your gut. I once made the mistake of renting an apartment without that having that tingly, meant-to-be feeling (we were seduced by the size-- easily twice as big as our previous apartment) and I couldn't eat for anxiety for two weeks after we signed the lease. In the end, though, it turned out to be the right decision to move there-- I learned what I DON'T like about apartments, which made our hunt for an apartment to buy that much easier. But I hated coming home to that space.
view jeccat's profile
the place i have now is my dream apartment. I really thought I would have to go into a bidding war for it, and wrote a unique letter to the agent to take notice. I just remember seeing the ad for it and thinking there's no chance in hell I would be lucky enought to get that place. Turn's out my mentioning of owning a Harley peaked the Agent's interest since he owned one too. Next thing you know we have a private viewing and we get the place.
What's strange about the place is that everything I owned fit into it's perfect place. All of the belongings I have accumilated for whatever reason and at whatever time have come down to making this place what it is.
That combo of asthetics and personal posessions is what make's this love at first sight and even then some.
view sanriofreak's profile
My realtor and I got lost trying to find a particular house, and accidentally stumbled upon the 1953 ranch of my dreams. We both shouted and pointed, she slammed on the brakes, and we jumped up and down while exploring it. The house was a bit above my price range, but completely worth the stretch. I've lived in it for two years.
Oh yeah, I overlooked the fact that it isn't in my favorite neighborhood.
view brittanykate's profile