How I Got This House
Buying your first home—or second, third, or fourth—comes with its share of stressors. Is the price right? Does the property check all the boxes on your wish list? What if your offer falls through?
Luckily, the right real estate agent can support you in your search. Between scheduling showings, coordinating inspections, and negotiating the best possible offer, an agent is a buyer’s best friend, helping ease any worries throughout the process.
And once you step inside your dream home, it’s all worth it. Here, we share real-life lessons learned during the buying process—from first-time buyers up against a tough market to an experienced homeowner looking to downsize for the later years of life—and how each got the house they now call home.
Grace Cary; Benjamin Ronde; Phamai Techaphan | Design: Kailey Whitman
These high school sweethearts were ready to take the next step with their first home—but the market had other plans. Along with rising prices, they encountered stiff competition and were outbid not once but five times in a row. Instead of losing hope, they crafted a plan to save money (which included moving in with their parents) and returned to their search eight months later. The payoff for their patience? “The Goldilocks of houses”—a 1970s rambler with ample square footage and a big, tree-filled backyard.
Jordan Lye; chictype | Design: Kailey Whitman
Nearing retirement age, and with New Jersey home prices prohibitively high, it was time for a change for this long-time homeowner. A dreamy duplex near the waterfront in Jacksonville, FL, offered the perfect escape. See how he landed the first house on his list—a newly flipped 1913 bungalow with an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) tacked on back in historic San Marco—with the help of his real estate agent.
DNY59; Robert Shafer | Design: Kailey Whitman
When this family of four passed by a “For Sale” sign in their tree-lined neighborhood, the possibility of more space was too tempting to turn down. A fortuitous run-in with a classic brick home—complete with his and hers offices, a bathroom for each family member, a basement hangout, and plenty of space to entertain—became the catalyst for selling their family home and starting a new chapter.
