Revisiting an old thread here.
Been in the house 7 years now. Havent missed one payment.
I took out 2 bathroms, and combined them into one big one. Dropped 45k into that (marble, cabinets, therapy tub, large glass lined shower, etc). The roof repair I had planned never happened, a windstorm and insurance took care of that, and than hail 3 years later.
We put in new floors in 2 of the upstairs bedrooms, the hallway, and the dining room is next week. Bought some nice appliances for the kitchen and laundry room (washer and dryer are PURPLE!).
The neighbors have been a god sent. You remember the old days when a new family moved into your neighborhood, and complete strangers came over with house warming gifts, and your first meal in your new home.. That happened to me, restored some of my faith in humanity.
The kicker is that the homes value, i purchased at 162k, it now has a market value of 477k, and taxes are the murdering point now! But I have equity of more than I could have imagined at this point. Real estate agents have literally been knocking on my door asking, and some begging me to sell.
Job may be transferring me later this year, and that equity is going to go a long way into buying a house, and being completely debt free.
Certainly been a roller coaster. Mom died just before we moved, G-Ma died shortly after, cousin died shortly after that, G-Pa died shortly after that. Watching my G-Pa go downhill was not a fun event.
My son being born has been a interesting event for me. Never saw myself as a Father or Dad figure... But here I am!