7 years ago...I bought my home

7 years ago at the young age of 27, I was preparing to buy this home. I started scoping out my first home back in November and so by March, it was nice to plan to get this process overwith. I was approved for a $250K loan on my measely salary. I was so scared to take on this 'big' risk to me and I felt so young and immature.

My real estate agent was Craig Roberts of Prudential and his wife Charlotte was my Mortgage Loan officer. I knew them since 1995 when I was their nanny in West Seattle. I loved them so much and totally trusted them. Craig had been bothering me for 6 years to buy a home and I kept putting it off, toooo scared.

The funny thing though is that I did all my own research and so did Craig and when we came together to view homes, he let us see all the homes I picked out first. We went to Covington and Maple Valley homes, about 10 of them. Then, when we were done, he turned to me in the car and said, "NOW, ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE HOME YOU ARE GOING TO BUY?". I laughed at his cocky statement. He showed me this address in Maple Valley. It had gone on the market just 2 days prior. It was exactly $249,900. Here were some crappy camera shots I took of our first walk through. The backyard sold me.. it was HUGE, over 10,000 sf. I put a full offer in and it was accepted. On March 12, we signed the papers. My stepdad co-signed for me. We took a chance and did an FHA loan which meant that I got a 4% arm loan, but paid in $100 per month insurance. It was my only option to make it work since I put down such a low down payment and maxed out my possibly loan.

The goal was to get a 20% increase in value in 2 years and I would get all my insurance returned to me, take my step-dad off the loan, and lock in on a 30 year rate.

It worked perfectly! PHEW!!!!

Just a few days after I signed on my new house, I was laid off from my job of 4 years. I couldn't believe it. I was a frantic mess and I immediately cancelled my 6 week Europeon Vacation that I was planning. Fortunately, I got a new job and I was able to keep my house. What a nail biting time in my life though. I didn't know if I was more happy my employer waited to lay me off after I got my house, or if I was more mad that they let me buy a house knowing they would lay me off. Oh well, water under the bridge now.

I still feel so lucky and I thank the Roberts for helping me. I also thank my step dad for taking a chance on me.