Day in the Life

First Time Home Owners

June is National Homeownership Month. It began in 1995 as a strategy of President Bill Clinton’s administration to increase homeownership across America. Later, in 2002, President George W. Bush expanded the period of observance from a week to the entire month of June. National Homeownership Month reinforces the belief that owning a home is one of the steps towards achieving the American dream.

Studies have shown that homeownership builds financial security. With 65.5% of Americans owning homes, the net worth of a typical homeowner is nearly 40 times the net worth of a non-owner. However, a historic 50-year record shortage of affordable homes available for purchase has severely limited access to the residential real estate market. Faced with the challenge of low inventory and now higher interest rates, I have redoubled my efforts in helping all my buyers obtain their new HOME … it is my mission.

I have been dealing with more out-of-state buyers making Maine their new home. 1 in every 3 has been from away. For all my buyers these last couple of years, getting that house under contract for each of them has been a roller coaster ride, scary one minute and deliriously exciting the next, and always, fortunately, with a happy ending. It has taken a lot of work and effort by all parties involved. My buyers have been great and taking it all in stride, never giving up hope in finding their new HOME. We are making the American Dream come true for them.

I wanted to share a few thoughts about home ownership from some of my buyers, now proud homeowners, from past years and as recent as last week. They have shared why home ownership matters to them.

For single dad buyer Elijah W., the process of purchasing his first home was long and excessively drawn out because it was a direct rural development loan, with lots of government steps and hurdles to jump. However, each setback and delay in the process only helped to motivate him to work even harder towards that goal of providing a home for his 2 sons. Commenting on his search process, Elijah says, “Instead of settling I ended up with the right agent for what might be the perfect house for me and my boys. I felt such a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s been 3 ½ years and I still get that feeling of success. I go to bed knowing that, yay, I did it!!! Unbelievable this is all mine. There’s a peace that comes with that. I love coming home.”

As a young man buying his first home, Evan C. states that “Buying a home was the smartest decision I ever made. To me, it’s not concrete, wood and drywall, owning a house changed me for the better, made me learn new skills and grow more confident in my ability. I’m so glad I’m not facing rising rent prices and housing insecurity.” Really good points about rent prices and rental housing insecurities.

Following the theme of home security, homeowners Aaron and Esther N. found the perfect home for them and their blessed family. 2 precious babies are now calling the backyard fields their world to explore. Aaron says that home ownership is potentially one of the most important decisions he has made. “It gives me and my family a sense of place, home, and identity.”

It was an exciting year for Rich and Emma B. when they got married and purchased their new home. 2 beautiful babies and assorted pets have followed making the house a true home. “The excitement of buying a new home, our first home together was unreal,” Emma says. And she continues, “that the opportunities were so exciting when we first purchased. Since then, we’ve built more memories than I ever dreamed of in our home.” In January this year, the couple welcomed baby Caspar with an at home birthing. Now that is a special memory.

When asked about homeownership, brand new home owners Brianna and John summed it up best by saying “Driving back from the closing, it really sank in that we finally found a place to put down roots and build a beautiful life together in Maine.” Brianna also added that she has been “giddy with excitement since we got the keys.”

Kaitlin and Nick T. will be closing soon. Their search involved a lot of showings and several denied offers and false hopes. But all of those denials were because the right house had not yet presented itself to be their new home. They are looking ahead to their future, like Brianna and John, they are putting down new roots in Maine. “Owning a home gives us the freedom of our own expression and reminds us how hard we worked to be where we are. It is the place where friends and family can gather and share love and laughter. It is the habitat in which the pets will sleep, cuddle and zoom in. And finally, it is the setting of many memories to come and the place we call home.” Well said guys.

For all the financial reasons why you should own your own home, it is the emotional reasons that are most important. HOME is more than a building, it is your personal sanctuary for family and friends, your future, and your freedom. For one last quote, “There’s no place like home”.