Real Home Stories

What wasn't working:
For 3 years, Nicole had been living with her two children in the home she grew up in - with her parents. They'd moved back to Prairie Village during her divorce, and, as much as she loves her parents, it was time to get her own place.

The wish list:
3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a place for her office that had a closed door, a fenced in yard, 2 car garage, and no major work to be done. It was November, and she wanted to be in the new home by August. She had to stay in the Shawnee Mission school district and really didn't want to have to move her kids from their elementary school. The kids wanted multiple floors and lots of space to play.

The process:
The first house she loved was under contract before funding could be established. Knowing she'd have to make some compromises, she opened up her search area which would mean a move for the kids, which she didn't love. Then she lost on 3 offers on just listed properties going well over asking, and it would have been a 4th but we were told her top price was already beat. She was feeling defeated.

Her new home:
They were on spring break when I said, so, there's a house that just had a significant price drop. We hopped on a video call and she later said, "I knew this was my house before I even picked up!" It has 4 bedrooms, 3 floors + a finished basement, a 2 car garage, and a giant fenced in yard. While the kids do have to move schools, it is 12 minutes from their grandparents' home.

The best part?
Because it was significantly overpriced from the start, there were no competing offers and she was able to get it for $5k under asking price ($75k under original listing price!) WITH an allowance for new carpet! And because they found the home early enough in her timeline, she was able to spend the summer painting it HER way - and it's beautiful!

What wasn't working:
Divorced 14 years earlier, Michelle had been renting. It meant a move every few years, and she was tired of it. A job promotion finally put her in a place to afford the monthly payments on a mortgage, but she didn't have much saved.

The wish list:
Under $300k, 2+ bedrooms, 2+baths, Kansas City MO school district, and a backyard. No big projects.

The process:
As we started looking at a few different homes, the wish list became a little more defined. He daughter was drawn to the homes with a space that could be her own, and a front porch. She was beginning to settle, even considering a home that had been smoked in for 30+ years and needed a full gut and attic build out. "What I hear you saying is you want something you can move in to NOW that has what you want, and this isn't it," I suggested. "You're right," she said. And while she was open to anywhere within the KCMO school district she was most drawn to the homes very near to her current rental.

Her new home:
2 beds with a loft that is only accessible by her daughter's room - which is the space she was looking for, AND there's a front porch with a swing! The backyard even came with a play set and a bonus patio for entertaining.

The best part?
It's LITERALLY across the street from her rental, and she was able to work with her lender to find a loan program offering 0% down, allowing her to start with a financial cushion to jumpstart some of the small projects that come with moving into a new home.

What wasn't working:
When they moved into their house 12 years ago, they didn't know what life would look like in the future. Two kids later and choosing a remote learning option, the California Split layout wasn't working for their daily lives.

The wish list:
Back up to park or nature space, formal dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, walk out basement or basement with A LOT of natural light, study or office space or 4th bedroom to use as office, open eat-in kitchen , no HOA or HOA includes pool.

The process:
Not in a rush, they were willing to wait for the RIGHT home. In fact, this conversation started 3 years earlier. They looked at 1 house, and pushed pause.

Then there was a house.

We looked at it, and they decided to put in an offer. 30 days on market, no offers, and suddenly it was a bidding war. They didn't get it.

Knowing what was meant to be theirs would find them, finally they found it.

Their new home:
4 bedrooms (giving an ENTIRE room to dedicate to school), a park , pool, and walking trail one street over, an open floorplan, and an unfinished basement. There's also a 3 car garage big enough for them to put their camper!

The best part?
Their budget was $500k, and they got the house under budget for $430k! ALSO! Hoping to sell their house for $320k, the final offer was $375k, giving them extra money to begin the basement build out immediately!

What wasn't working:
For the last year she had been living in a 2 bedroom house on a busy street that might as well have been a highway. As a single mom with 2 young kids, 3 dogs, and a few cats, they were bursting at the seams, not to mention the danger of the busy street. She was ready to plant roots in a home nestled deep into a neighborhood with a big yard. But the biggest problem? She lived in Idaho, and real estate licenses are state specific.

The wish list:
A kind, full-time Realtor familiar with the area, 3+ bedrooms, garage, big yard, lots of storage, walk-in primary bedroom closet, middle of the neighborhood, not too bright, move-in ready.

The process:
Within 24 hours of asking me to come help in Idaho, not only was she connected to a Realtor (HII Gillian Mannix in Meridian, OH!), but she was UNDER CONTRACT on a house! It was the first and ONLY one she looked at!

Her new home:
Literally everything she wanted.

And the best part?
It's green - which was her mom's favorite color. And by "her" mom, I really mean OUR mom, as this special buy was for my twin sister!! We lost our mom when we were 11, so this was a pretty special sign for her <3

What wasn't working:

Emily's job has her on the road a lot - leaving Ava home alone in their tiny rental house with a tiny yard... and 2 dogs. They didn't love the town they were in, and they were ready to move from KS to MO so she wouldn't have to pay dual income taxes.

The wish list:
Acreage so the dogs have a space to play, a barn, and the ability to have chickens!

The process:
There was a house... and they wanted to see it. Ava had to drive 2.5 hours, so we scheduled a showing for that evening.
They LOVED it.
Just to be sure, we looked at 1 more, and there was NO question this was the one for them!

Her new home:
Located on 3 acres with a barn!

And the best part?
They were able to get a loan with 0% down, and as a young, first-time homebuyer this was an extra big deal! They were also able to negotiate a riding lawn mower to stay (everything is negotiable!) full inspections, which turned into a repair of the septic tank, treating for termites, and the barn being painted to cover lead paint.

OH! And they stayed $15k under budget!