One thing with home ownership, don't forget to keep track of the maintenance costs.. Not decorating, but like eventual roof repairs, siding, furnace replacement, etc... That will show your true return of investment.
Is that right? Because we got sold a 620k lemon house and we are putting a shit ton of money into it to fix all the lies and deceit. I want to fix things and move on with my life. I am too disappointed to keep living here.
I feel like 20s is such a weird age. I have some friends who are getting married at like 23 and my friends will talk shit behind their back and I just don't get it... they're happy and it doesnt affect you? If your friends want to get married, move in with a boyfriend, have a baby, buy a house, WHATEVER the case is, just be happy for them. I do think a lot of it stems from jealousy and I for sure have been on BOTH ends of that. I think its just something we all need to actively remind ourselves to UPLIFT our friends, even if they have different life choices/paths from ours
THIS. Part of being a friend is being there though all of it. The good and the bad just as much as you’d hope those people will be there for you in the same situations.
Isn't that all part of being in your 20's? Moving farther away from "The High School" era of your life has definite benefits! The older you get, the more mature you AND your friends will get - hopefully! So yes, I agree, we must all be supportive of each others good fortune. ♡
Personally, I don’t “hate” on those people, but I do question the mentality of wanting to get it all done so young. If it all works out that way, great! I think for Monica, it seems very natural and it’s great she bought a place so independently. But I feel like many people force it, consciously or not. They wanna get to the “American Dream” of being married with kids, owning a house, etc. that they miss out on some of their most exciting years, maybe even marrying the wrong person or buying the wrong home because of the rush. We should also acknowledge that for some, never doing any of that stuff is fine, and there is still a lot of stigma if you fall outside the norm in society.
@Nowhere fast I feel that is also completely normal! For me, I feel there is no rush to that finish line, I don't really anticipate getting married or having kids until my late 20s/30s. But everyone is on different paths. Whether that path involves getting married at 25 or getting married at 35 or not at all! I can understand that frustration though
Those friends who can’t be happy for you aren’t your friends. My lesson of 2020. A real friend doesn’t compare nor compete. They know that we all glow up in seasons that don’t always align perfectly. Don’t be friends with hating people. Sucks when it’s family though.
This is the first video i’ve seen where someone has mentioned the whole “not everyone will be happy for you” thing! I am the youngest child of 3 (i’m 25) and my boyfriend and I just bought our first place together. Half of my family was so excited and supportive, the other half ... well lol. It makes me feel better that other people have experienced this too! I love how open you are about going through all this “adult” stuff, and making it seem not so scary. Keep doing your thing girl 🥰
Yes Monica become a real estate agent!! You’d be so good at it Your so nice! I think people would enjoy working with you. Not an agent yet but I’m in the process of studying for my test now lol
I think that's definitely true about people not sharing in your excitement, whether it's buying a house, getting married/engaged, a new car, having a baby, etc etc. Overall you always kind of have to live your life your you, and you can't NEED other people to be excited and happy too. Some times it is like with buying a house, it might be a jealousy thing and a bad reminder of where they are NOT able to do yet. But then certain things people may just not be excited/overly happy about, and it's just simply because it's not THEIR life and so while you may feel like it's super exciting and awesome, it just simply doesn't matter to them the same way it matters to you. Like I know someone who got pregnant and she was 20, and people were happy for her because that is what she wanted and it made her happy, but she was shocked they were not over the moon excited and begging to do baby things and her friends were not begging to play aunt. They were not jealous and they were happy for her, but they also were just at a point in their life where that's something that they particularly cared about, and when it comes to marriage, babies, buying a house etc. Those things affect the lives of the person doing those things, but to everyone else its doesn't affect them and so they naturally are not going to care as much or be as excited about it as if it were them.
Every house I have moved into REQUIRED me to give it a scrub down across every single inch. Bcuz you're right - it is NOT the same as renting an apartment where they have everything clean and move-in ready. Houses are different that way. From shampooing the carpets, to washing the baseboards, and yes - the kitchen cabinets should ALWAYS be scrubbed inside and out!!! New shelf paper is a nice touch too. You just don't want other peoples dirt, and schmultz on all your stuff - right?!! Or is that just me? This next part doesn't help when YOU move into a new place, but it DOES work when someone else moves in to your street. It's a helpful way to make new friends. When you see someone moving into their new house, walk over, introduce yourself, and strike up a conversation. Start helping to move boxes into the house. Just jump right in! After all, its really not a good time for these new people to stop their work and have a friendly chat. So talk and walk! Take the initiative, lend a helping hand. If this person (or people) seem even the smallest bit compatible with yourself, go ahead and take the next step. Which is: Offer to help wash down the kitchen cabinets. Yes, it's better than carrying heavy boxes!!! Yes, it's a huge job. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, you CAN do this. Which is why the new person will really appreciate your help! Insist on doing it! Just pick up the Windex, and get to work on those cabinets!! This gives you both the opportunity to talk to each other during this Spring Cleaning job. And by the end of it, you will probably have made a new friend. I did this with someone 30 years ago. She moved in across the street from me. And yes, she was surprised that anyone would offer to scrub down the kitchen cabinets! I only spent 2 hours over there while my baby was at home napping, so it wasn't like I was in their hair all day. I gotta say, it was one of the best things I've done - EVER!!! Since that day, she and I have now been best friends for more than 30 years!!! And it probably never would have happened if I had not made that first move, and offered to help. ♡
I'm also in Seattle and buying anything decent in this area seems like such a huge financial commitment that I find it much more stress-free to just rent inexpensive places, save a bunch of money, and enjoy life while I advance in my career and earn more money. I'm ok with waiting to buy until the mortgage for a house I like represents a small portion of my monthly income.
Hey Monica. I come from the future and I really hope you read this! I watched this and I think it's absolutely awesome how you just briefly talked about being interested in real estate, and getting your license. You also mentioned that you love the Seattle and Palm Springs market. Fast forward to today, you've gotten your license and bought another property in the Palm Springs!! DUDE, you are an absolute go-getter and a true inspiration. You know what you're interested in and you GO FOR IT rather than just let it marinate in your head and do nothing about it. I watch your videos cause i love your content, I find you relatable and your cinematography quality is fantastic but now, I just respect you so much and realize you're someone who has such inspiring traits!!!! You go girl!
I really appreciate your videos about home buying and ownership. I'm 26 and looking to purchase my first home. Your videos have been super encouraging and educational. Thank you! Please please please keep them up!
Love seeing younger creators make content like this! I want to be able to do things like this when I’m your age and have my money work for me. Love your videos and the Seattle content!
Monica, I say pursue anything and everything you're passionate about because you have the talent and drive to be successful (and simultaneously create inspirational content for your viewers). I'm so excited to join you in your future. Also 20s are definitely weird - I have friends getting married and buying homes at 23 and here I am single, in school until I'm 28, and in student debt for almost as much as your mortgage. As dreamy as it sounds, your video made me realize that I'm not jealous of my friends; we have to remind ourselves that we're all in different stages of our lives and things will fall into place as they're meant to.
@@arielritchie3015 Oh thank goodness you confirmed she has a twin sister!! I was just watching one of Shelby's videos and didn't realize it wasn't Monica until I was nearly 10 mins in. They even put their hair behind their ears the same way!
I know Graham Stephan is really successful with his UA-cam videos and real estate deals, but he's super cheap. I saw one of his videos where his idea of a splurge was to order a meal @ McDonald's via drive-thru. There's nothing wrong with that, but for someone who saves 99% of his income...COME ON...TREAT YO SELF!! Monica has a bit more depth and her platform is more well rounded than what Graham is up to.
This is a great video. I made a HUGE payment towards my mortgage and then the amount I was paying towards interest dropped to basically nothing .and then my principal reduced SO fast and I paid off my house. Highly recommend if you can Do it!
I was a first home owner last year too! Living in Alabama, however, made my experience much different. My neighbors are extremely nice, mortgage is way cheaper than renting, and most people here stay in the same house for decades. The city is much different so it’s good to hear a different perspective.
I bought a 50 year old duplex for 46,000, then I built 3 brand new single family homes, First was 114,000, second was 193,000 and third was 237,000. And these homes ranged from 3-5 bedrooms and 2.5-3.5 bathrooms. Can not imagine spending what you did! Wow.
I bought a house a month ago. One thing I realized since I moved in was that the amount of projects I want to do isn't going to be done as early as you would like. My kitchen was the FIRST thing I was going to fix. I haven't gotten it done yet. Once you buy your house and move in then you see what the real condition is. You are right about the place not being deep cleaned. My kitchen cabinets are stained and look dirty. I don't want to unpack my kitchen all the way.
In my high school civics course, the teacher actually had us write out the entire amortization table for a 30-year loan. In hindsight, it was probably a busywork assignment to keep us quiet. However, it DID show me how front-loaded mortgages are and how much you spend on interest during the first two-thirds of the loan, which was extremely useful to know. As an aside, you should definitely become a real estate agent because it seems like something you are passionate about.
I really resonated with your segment on the reactions that you received upon buying your first home. It can be discouraging to have the people closest to you not be happy for your success and I've recently felt that same feeling. Like you said everyone is in different places in their lives and I loved your perspective on how to approach not the most positive reactions!
Hell yeah girl if you want to become a real estate agent, chase that dream!! If you have a passion for it, which you clearly do, then follow that road and see where it takes you. You built yourself a huge head-start in life and I love that you're taking advantage of that by following a new interest
I'm renting my first apartment starting on Tuesday, and I love watching these videos of yours related to owning a house! My mom used to be a real estate agent and she really enjoyed it, it just was a lot of work at least here!
You are soooo soooo right with the point that not everyone will be excited for you! My childhood friend became distant as soon as I bought a house. We are 27 years old and she is in a different life situation, but man it sucks not having their support during a big life event
1. You can negotiate as a strong buyer to have the seller have the home professionally cleaned. Put it in the purchase agreement. 2. If the person died on the property within the past 3 years, they legally are required to disclose that information to the buyer before buying.
I originally purchased my home with less than 20% down. It appreciated quickly so I was able to get a new appraisal through my mortgage company and they dropped PMI. I did have to pay for the appraisals but that amount was negligible compared to the savings of no longer having to pay PMI.
It's really sad that "friends" cant be happy for each other's achievements. When my friend bought a house, I was so happy for her. Now i've started a business and shes been nothing but critical (jealous). She is no longer a friend. We all deserve friends that will support, encourage and celebrate us.
If you can save up that 20 percent down payment, it really helps. Also, if you have any additional money each month....make a separate payment to work down principal. ...and, if you have a good real estate agent....they will work into your contract to have house professionally cleaned before move-in.
I found that the same thing happened to me when I was 23 last year and bought my house. 1-2 of my friends did not even congratulate me. It was surprising but makes sense now from what you said :/
your friends shouldnt be so jealous and unhappy for you. it really sucks when people are like that and we shouldnt have have to make excuses for them. i just bought a place too, and i think it will show your/our friends true character in many ways!! congrats and hope youre doing well!!!!
I live in Vancouver, Canada and you’re right... your townhome would cost upwards of 1.5 million here, even more depending on how close to downtown it is. Thanks for being so transparent!
I had my sold house professionally cleaned for the new owners that were completely ungrateful. I now see not everyone does this. Good to know for the future.
Exactly the reason when I bought my townhouse it had to be NEW construction. That way everything is brand New, NO ONE has crapped in the toilet , showered in your tub or have died in the residence prior. Also you're able to pick all the finishes yourself instead of having to spend time & extra money to remodel. The appliances and fixtures are warrantied for a year. Also since it's new construction everything is up to code and especially living in Los Angeles up to the latest earthquake codes. I had friends that bought an older home that was flipped, looks great on the outside but to find out plumbing & electrical were outdated and out of code and had to spend even more to repair & replace.
Your friends did hire an inspector? I know it varies per state. But having a home inspection does save on future problems that can be pointed out before the actual purchase of the home.
Home ownership comes with some headaches but with the appreciation, principal pay down, and freedom to do whatever you want with the house, it is totally better than renting!
I'm sorry, I found you by accident on UA-cam...you are Hilarious and I love your videos, preach it girl, speak your TRUTH! I'm in the market to purchasing my 1st home, I will take your lessons to heart - so as the voice of the silent majority - Thank you. Hope I have neighbors as cool as you one day!!!
As another millennial working to get her real estate license, I say go for it! It's super easy to sign up for online courses and it's pretty cheap too so I don't really see any downside. If you're going to buy or sell even 1 house in your lifetime, it seems super worth it (especially since there are so many more no-fee-brokerages popping up where you can park your license after you get it)!
You definitely learn as you go! When we sold our house we left it spotless but I know that is not always the norm. There we didn’t know our neighbors but we love the neighbors in our new neighborhood.
MONICA, CONGRATULATIONS! Way to go in going after the things you want in and out of your life. The keyword being YOUR life. Meaning everything and everyone you surround yourself. I'd say from the outside looking in that you are doing pretty good. As for your new neighbors hang in there eventually they will warm up to you. Give them time to get to know you and you them. It could be that you might end up being the welcome to the neighborhood greeter. You mentioned there were several homes that have sold since your purchase, no doubt more will follow. The point I'm trying to make is that you have a chance to change the current stuffy culture in your neighborhood. When you see new people moving in or that just moved in on your street somewhat close to your home. Buy a small plant or something as a gestor towards establishing a neighborly relationship. Hopefully, it will catch on and others will pay it forward to newbies on your street. Of course, you might run into people who just do not want to bother knowing there neighbors and that's fine too. Just let them be and don't worry they will let you know in their own ways. So it won't be too hard to figure out. Monica, I wish much happiness and success in your new journey.
I totally recommend hiring move-in cleaners to come clean before you move in! And, if you have carpets, to get them professionally cleaned as well. Totally worth the money
I don’t know much about Seattle but I imagine like any other big city, the value will continue to go up. Congratulations on your purchase!! Wishing you the best of luck on your future endeavors! 💕 I love seeing a younger woman doing this!
If you’re passionate about becoming a real estate agent, 100% do it!! Even if it doesn’t end up really working out, or you don’t love it, you’ll never regret those life experiences. Plus, you have the added bonus of not needing to quit one job to pursue another. This could give you some great content that I personally would love to watch! 💜
Yes, get your license!! I’m only an ISA for a local brokerage but I love being in this industry and I know you’d love it too! My cousin is an agent in Dallas and she paid for Zillow leads and she’s already gotten 3 houses under contract in the last month only from Zillow leads! Do it do it do it
Me and my BF bought out first house in may but don't get to move in until january 2021.. Obviously the sellers sold so early because of covid-19 and fear that the market would go down (and they already bought a new house). We used that long move in date to get a better deal, from 420k to 400k, and the market has got up ever since.. They made a bad move because like 99% of the houses on the market in the entire city goes for asking or above. Can't wait until we get to move in!!! :) (btw I live in the 3rd largest city in Sweden).
I just bought my first house & the previous owner died there as well. Not only that, but she was one of my customers @ my store as well. I hope to make her proud. 🙂😍🥰
Interesting video Monica! I am starting to think about getting into the real estate business, potentially buying a place to rent out. Maybe in the future you can talk more about renting to your roommates or what your plan is for the Palm Springs house (renting to tenants, airbnb, or whatever your plan may be). I think renting would be a great investment opportunity.
#6 is a HUGE one. I remember when I bought my house in LA, several co-workers/friends would just talk about how annoyed they were that they couldn't buy a home vs. being happy for me. It always made me feel really awkward and dumb for even talking about it. People would also assume that I was secretly rich too-when in reality I was so poor at the time lol.
You said that having neighbors could be so much worse than what it is now and let me tell you that is true. My parents friends had terrible neighbors, they threatened the husband cussed at the kids, and even more. My parent’s friends were planning to move, but thankfully their neighbors moved before they did, so they didn’t have to move. They were not mean to them at all had nothing bad to do with them, who knows why they acted like that. Neighbors can be so much worse than what you have right now and be grateful. ;D I just wanted to tell you btw THIS IS A TRUE STORY!
The number of HORRIBLE neighbors out there just goes to show how many horrible people there are. I've had a couple myself. Sorry for the depressing thought!
First time home buyers, make sure you have your agent write in to have the place professionally cleaned, yard maintained and utilities on until closing. Things that can really put a damper on your new purchase if those aren’t already taken care of!
The content you have been making lately has been absolutely on point. I love you and your channel so much , Monica. Keep up the wonderful work as always. Also, I’ve been loving the podcast!😊💗
go for it! i am an agent , a new one and it really is a fulfillment when u help people reach one of the biggest milestones in life. its gonna be more exciting for your channel but also time-consuming .. always loved these videos from you.
As a realtor/broker in Washington state and around the Seattle area I thought a lot of this was good information! The only thing I would say that from a realtor’s perspective may be misleading is the FOMO. In our current market, you do have to jump on a house when you like it because the amount of offers and bidding wars happening right now are unreal. If you don’t offer when you want, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to win the next one either. And as you said too, your house has appreciated $65k in one year, so if someone is looking for a year, a house that was once available when they first started looking may be entirely out of their price range when it comes up again. If you’re looking into real estate you seem to have a good understanding from the get go and that is definitely really helpful!
You are right. Bought my first house at 23 years old with my boyfriend and some of my friends was not excited for me... we’re not friends anymore 😂 People are jealous sometimes but if they can’t be happy for you, they don’t deserve to be your friend😚
I had the oppossite experience when me and my husband bought our first flat. We also look like we might be one of the youngest couples in the neighborhood, but we got to know all our neighbors and talk to them regularly and keep up with what's going on around the area. We're lucky that in Europe interest rates are so low (cause property prices are also super high in some EU countries), so the majority of our repayments are mostly equity even though we just bought the house last year.
Congratulations! I am always so happy to see young people invest in housing. Definitely put down as much as you can per month to get that interest down as quick as possible. Make the sacrifices early. Also, find other ways to bring in revenue. Local to me, renting driveway space is popular, for instance.
Ahhh thank you for #3. Just made an offer on a house and the sellers went with another offer and was having major FOMO. Good reminder that others will come up for sale :)
You're growing!!!! I love your content, it just gets better and better, and look at that glow up. You look amazing and your hair is growing! Love you and your channel
#6 hit hard. I am buying my first home and i was so excited to tell my siblings but they didn’t congratulate me. It was so strange because I know they love me, but it genuinely felt like they were upset. Was not expecting that. Now I don’t wanna tell my friends or cousins 😕 still happy that I am buying a house though but yes, most people will not be happy for you. As the saying goes, your friends want you to do well, but not better than them.
Now go get your house reappraised to you can remove your PMI since you no have enough equity to cover 20% of the loan. yes, your property tax will go up but not more than PMI and that means more to the principle.
A good tip for paying principle is to try to make at least 1 full payment just to principle a year. it apparently cuts down on the time on the loan by a good amount. I currently pay 10% of my monthly payment to principle alone so it actually adds up to 120% by the end of the year. Also depending how your escrow is set up be prepared for a jump in your monthly bill at the start of your second year owning the house(so if your first payment was November 2019 you might see a jump November 2020).
A sense of community in Seattle totally depends on your neighborhood. I felt the way you do on Cap Hill, but feel totally different in my current neighborhood. It's amazing!
Im a real estate agent in los angeles, i dont help others buy or sell because it very hard to get clients, so i simply just buy my own houses and pocket in the money which is super helpful!
I rent in Bellevue, currently. I wish I could buy a house, even in renton, where I was raised. I am proud of you that it happened for you, though. I definitely am not mad that you got a home in your dream neighborhood. You have worked hard to get where you are.
My father told me many years ago that not everyone is happy when you start to become successful! Truth.
Everyone and friends are two different groups. I have been like this for a while, and if you aren't genuine or someone I can trust you have got to go.
He's right. Experienced it. Only thing people didn't know is that I was not successful...yet. They just assumed. :-)
One thing with home ownership, don't forget to keep track of the maintenance costs.. Not decorating, but like eventual roof repairs, siding, furnace replacement, etc... That will show your true return of investment.
Not as bad in townhome but it's still a big factor
Is that right? Because we got sold a 620k lemon house and we are putting a shit ton of money into it to fix all the lies and deceit. I want to fix things and move on with my life. I am too disappointed to keep living here.
would you recommend keeping track through a simple spreadsheet or through quickbooks?
I feel like 20s is such a weird age. I have some friends who are getting married at like 23 and my friends will talk shit behind their back and I just don't get it... they're happy and it doesnt affect you? If your friends want to get married, move in with a boyfriend, have a baby, buy a house, WHATEVER the case is, just be happy for them. I do think a lot of it stems from jealousy and I for sure have been on BOTH ends of that. I think its just something we all need to actively remind ourselves to UPLIFT our friends, even if they have different life choices/paths from ours
THIS. Part of being a friend is being there though all of it. The good and the bad just as much as you’d hope those people will be there for you in the same situations.
Isn't that all part of being in your 20's?
Moving farther away from "The High School" era of your life has definite benefits!
The older you get, the more mature you AND your friends will get - hopefully!
So yes, I agree, we must all be supportive of each others good fortune. ♡
Personally, I don’t “hate” on those people, but I do question the mentality of wanting to get it all done so young. If it all works out that way, great! I think for Monica, it seems very natural and it’s great she bought a place so independently. But I feel like many people force it, consciously or not. They wanna get to the “American Dream” of being married with kids, owning a house, etc. that they miss out on some of their most exciting years, maybe even marrying the wrong person or buying the wrong home because of the rush. We should also acknowledge that for some, never doing any of that stuff is fine, and there is still a lot of stigma if you fall outside the norm in society.
@@KaraIsabella Totally agree!
@Nowhere fast I feel that is also completely normal! For me, I feel there is no rush to that finish line, I don't really anticipate getting married or having kids until my late 20s/30s. But everyone is on different paths. Whether that path involves getting married at 25 or getting married at 35 or not at all! I can understand that frustration though
Those friends who can’t be happy for you aren’t your friends. My lesson of 2020. A real friend doesn’t compare nor compete. They know that we all glow up in seasons that don’t always align perfectly. Don’t be friends with hating people. Sucks when it’s family though.
True!
So true 💯💯💯
THIS. My friends were like "Damn! Finally! Hurray! "
Put: "To be professionally cleaned" in the purchase agreement next time.
I def needed that when I got my house.
I wish I would have done that 😩
That can be tricky too if it’s a competitive market - like Seattle.
This is the first video i’ve seen where someone has mentioned the whole “not everyone will be happy for you” thing! I am the youngest child of 3 (i’m 25) and my boyfriend and I just bought our first place together. Half of my family was so excited and supportive, the other half ... well lol. It makes me feel better that other people have experienced this too! I love how open you are about going through all this “adult” stuff, and making it seem not so scary. Keep doing your thing girl 🥰
Yes Monica become a real estate agent!! You’d be so good at it Your so nice! I think people would enjoy working with you. Not an agent yet but I’m in the process of studying for my test now lol
I think that's definitely true about people not sharing in your excitement, whether it's buying a house, getting married/engaged, a new car, having a baby, etc etc. Overall you always kind of have to live your life your you, and you can't NEED other people to be excited and happy too. Some times it is like with buying a house, it might be a jealousy thing and a bad reminder of where they are NOT able to do yet. But then certain things people may just not be excited/overly happy about, and it's just simply because it's not THEIR life and so while you may feel like it's super exciting and awesome, it just simply doesn't matter to them the same way it matters to you. Like I know someone who got pregnant and she was 20, and people were happy for her because that is what she wanted and it made her happy, but she was shocked they were not over the moon excited and begging to do baby things and her friends were not begging to play aunt. They were not jealous and they were happy for her, but they also were just at a point in their life where that's something that they particularly cared about, and when it comes to marriage, babies, buying a house etc. Those things affect the lives of the person doing those things, but to everyone else its doesn't affect them and so they naturally are not going to care as much or be as excited about it as if it were them.
Every house I have moved into REQUIRED me to give it a scrub down across every single inch. Bcuz you're right - it is NOT the same as renting an apartment where they have everything clean and move-in ready.
Houses are different that way.
From shampooing the carpets, to washing the baseboards, and yes - the kitchen cabinets should ALWAYS be scrubbed inside and out!!!
New shelf paper is a nice touch too.
You just don't want other peoples dirt, and schmultz on all your stuff - right?!!
Or is that just me?
This next part doesn't help when YOU move into a new place, but it DOES work when someone else moves in to your street.
It's a helpful way to make new friends.
When you see someone moving into their new house, walk over, introduce yourself, and strike up a conversation. Start helping to move boxes into the house.
Just jump right in!
After all, its really not a good time for these new people to stop their work and have a friendly chat.
So talk and walk!
Take the initiative, lend a helping hand.
If this person (or people) seem even the smallest bit compatible with yourself, go ahead and take the next step.
Which is:
Offer to help wash down the kitchen cabinets.
Yes, it's better than carrying heavy boxes!!!
Yes, it's a huge job.
Yes, it's a lot of work.
Yes, you CAN do this.
Which is why the new person will really appreciate your help!
Insist on doing it!
Just pick up the Windex, and get to work on those cabinets!!
This gives you both the opportunity to talk to each other during this Spring Cleaning job.
And by the end of it, you will probably have made a new friend.
I did this with someone 30 years ago. She moved in across the street from me.
And yes, she was surprised that anyone would offer to scrub down the kitchen cabinets! I only spent 2 hours over there while my baby was at home napping, so it wasn't like I was in their hair all day.
I gotta say, it was one of the best things I've done - EVER!!!
Since that day, she and I have now been best friends for more than 30 years!!!
And it probably never would have happened if I had not made that first move, and offered to help.
♡
Love this! 24 and bought my first house December 2019. Also trying to build equity and looking at becoming a real estate agent!!
Congrats!
I live in Seattle and your pricing for rooms sounds so generous
Did not been for that to be in this thread sorry gang
I'm also in Seattle and buying anything decent in this area seems like such a huge financial commitment that I find it much more stress-free to just rent inexpensive places, save a bunch of money, and enjoy life while I advance in my career and earn more money. I'm ok with waiting to buy until the mortgage for a house I like represents a small portion of my monthly income.
Stupid Flanders this af!! Live life to the fullest before settling
You just reminded me of the episodes of the classic television show, Frasier
As they are also reside somwhere within se@tle
Nothing wrong with waiting a few years till things cool down and SHTF! The 206 market is outrageous.
But dont you wanna try buy a house as soon as you can cause prices of real estate are risinh always?
Hey Monica. I come from the future and I really hope you read this!
I watched this and I think it's absolutely awesome how you just briefly talked about being interested in real estate, and getting your license. You also mentioned that you love the Seattle and Palm Springs market. Fast forward to today, you've gotten your license and bought another property in the Palm Springs!!
DUDE, you are an absolute go-getter and a true inspiration. You know what you're interested in and you GO FOR IT rather than just let it marinate in your head and do nothing about it. I watch your videos cause i love your content, I find you relatable and your cinematography quality is fantastic but now, I just respect you so much and realize you're someone who has such inspiring traits!!!! You go girl!
I really appreciate your videos about home buying and ownership. I'm 26 and looking to purchase my first home. Your videos have been super encouraging and educational. Thank you! Please please please keep them up!
Love seeing younger creators make content like this! I want to be able to do things like this when I’m your age and have my money work for me. Love your videos and the Seattle content!
Yes gurl! Make that money work for you!
Monica, I say pursue anything and everything you're passionate about because you have the talent and drive to be successful (and simultaneously create inspirational content for your viewers). I'm so excited to join you in your future. Also 20s are definitely weird - I have friends getting married and buying homes at 23 and here I am single, in school until I'm 28, and in student debt for almost as much as your mortgage. As dreamy as it sounds, your video made me realize that I'm not jealous of my friends; we have to remind ourselves that we're all in different stages of our lives and things will fall into place as they're meant to.
your hair is AMAZINGGG.
and need this lol I'm house hunting right now
We need a reaction video from Graham Stephan. Would love to see what he thinks!
I couldve sworn he did make a reaction but i could be wrong
I though that was her twin sister
@@davidperrii that was with her twin Shelby.
@@arielritchie3015 Oh thank goodness you confirmed she has a twin sister!! I was just watching one of Shelby's videos and didn't realize it wasn't Monica until I was nearly 10 mins in. They even put their hair behind their ears the same way!
I know Graham Stephan is really successful with his UA-cam videos and real estate deals, but he's super cheap. I saw one of his videos where his idea of a splurge was to order a meal @ McDonald's via drive-thru. There's nothing wrong with that, but for someone who saves 99% of his income...COME ON...TREAT YO SELF!! Monica has a bit more depth and her platform is more well rounded than what Graham is up to.
This is a great video. I made a HUGE payment towards my mortgage and then the amount I was paying towards interest dropped to basically nothing .and then my principal reduced SO fast and I paid off my house. Highly recommend if you can
Do it!
Loissupes yes!!! My bf is planning to drop between 100-120K for a down payment. Hoping this year next year
Yeeppp, with every payment you make the interest payment goes down and the principal payment goes up :)
I’m 26 and just bought my first house! I’m hopefully going to pay it off within the next 10 years and be completely debt free!
I was a first home owner last year too! Living in Alabama, however, made my experience much different. My neighbors are extremely nice, mortgage is way cheaper than renting, and most people here stay in the same house for decades. The city is much different so it’s good to hear a different perspective.
I bought a 50 year old duplex for 46,000, then I built 3 brand new single family homes, First was 114,000, second was 193,000 and third was 237,000. And these homes ranged from 3-5 bedrooms and 2.5-3.5 bathrooms. Can not imagine spending what you did! Wow.
Been loving these home-buying/home ownership videos!
I’m buying my first house so this was fun to watch :)
Same.
Congratulations!!
Me too. But I'm stressed out
I bought a house a month ago. One thing I realized since I moved in was that the amount of projects I want to do isn't going to be done as early as you would like. My kitchen was the FIRST thing I was going to fix. I haven't gotten it done yet. Once you buy your house and move in then you see what the real condition is. You are right about the place not being deep cleaned. My kitchen cabinets are stained and look dirty. I don't want to unpack my kitchen all the way.
Put an offer on a house today... I’m
Hoping it works out. Perfect timing for this video!
Ah good luck! But if you don’t get it, don’t get discouraged! Like I said, sooo many awesome properties come up!
In my high school civics course, the teacher actually had us write out the entire amortization table for a 30-year loan. In hindsight, it was probably a busywork assignment to keep us quiet. However, it DID show me how front-loaded mortgages are and how much you spend on interest during the first two-thirds of the loan, which was extremely useful to know.
As an aside, you should definitely become a real estate agent because it seems like something you are passionate about.
What a great thing he had you guys do, wow! Thanks for your support!
Can relate 100% people get jealous when you're young and buy a house.
I really resonated with your segment on the reactions that you received upon buying your first home. It can be discouraging to have the people closest to you not be happy for your success and I've recently felt that same feeling. Like you said everyone is in different places in their lives and I loved your perspective on how to approach not the most positive reactions!
Love the way you tell stories, you can make everything super interesting
If I could tell stories like her, I'd have a vlog as well. :-)
smashed the like button because i'm nosy and the financials is why i came (also bc i love monica)
Hell yeah girl if you want to become a real estate agent, chase that dream!! If you have a passion for it, which you clearly do, then follow that road and see where it takes you. You built yourself a huge head-start in life and I love that you're taking advantage of that by following a new interest
I'm renting my first apartment starting on Tuesday, and I love watching these videos of yours related to owning a house! My mom used to be a real estate agent and she really enjoyed it, it just was a lot of work at least here!
1.31 Million subscribers, damn you made it.Your channel was my fun serect at first....no longer a secret. I Love your vids forever.
You are soooo soooo right with the point that not everyone will be excited for you! My childhood friend became distant as soon as I bought a house. We are 27 years old and she is in a different life situation, but man it sucks not having their support during a big life event
Liked and subscribed, not because I’m nosey, but your videos are funny and helpful! Good luck to you!
1. You can negotiate as a strong buyer to have the seller have the home professionally cleaned. Put it in the purchase agreement.
2. If the person died on the property within the past 3 years, they legally are required to disclose that information to the buyer before buying.
I originally purchased my home with less than 20% down. It appreciated quickly so I was able to get a new appraisal through my mortgage company and they dropped PMI. I did have to pay for the appraisals but that amount was negligible compared to the savings of no longer having to pay PMI.
It's really sad that "friends" cant be happy for each other's achievements. When my friend bought a house, I was so happy for her. Now i've started a business and shes been nothing but critical (jealous). She is no longer a friend. We all deserve friends that will support, encourage and celebrate us.
If you can save up that 20 percent down payment, it really helps. Also, if you have any additional money each month....make a separate payment to work down principal. ...and, if you have a good real estate agent....they will work into your contract to have house professionally cleaned before move-in.
That private mortgage insurance is a killer
GIRL LOOK AT YOUU! All successful n so young. Idk why anyone wouldn’t be supportive CONGRATS
Lol even in Sims 4 when I play and the neighbors have the welcome to the neighborhood party, I end it the moment it starts and send them away lol
I found that the same thing happened to me when I was 23 last year and bought my house. 1-2 of my friends did not even congratulate me. It was surprising but makes sense now from what you said :/
I swear your house related videos are my favorite series on UA-cam 😂 Oddly specific series but it's true !
your friends shouldnt be so jealous and unhappy for you. it really sucks when people are like that and we shouldnt have have to make excuses for them. i just bought a place too, and i think it will show your/our friends true character in many ways!! congrats and hope youre doing well!!!!
I live in Vancouver, Canada and you’re right... your townhome would cost upwards of 1.5 million here, even more depending on how close to downtown it is. Thanks for being so transparent!
I had my sold house professionally cleaned for the new owners that were completely ungrateful. I now see not everyone does this. Good to know for the future.
You should purchase or make a Shield of Thorns to display in your home. Epic way to remember a legend.
Exactly the reason when I bought my townhouse it had to be NEW construction. That way everything is brand New, NO ONE has crapped in the toilet , showered in your tub or have died in the residence prior. Also you're able to pick all the finishes yourself instead of having to spend time & extra money to remodel. The appliances and fixtures are warrantied for a year. Also since it's new construction everything is up to code and especially living in Los Angeles up to the latest earthquake codes. I had friends that bought an older home that was flipped, looks great on the outside but to find out plumbing & electrical were outdated and out of code and had to spend even more to repair & replace.
Your friends did hire an inspector? I know it varies per state. But having a home inspection does save on future problems that can be pointed out before the actual purchase of the home.
I’m happy for you. 😊You are doing a great job! Stay away from people that brings you down.
Home ownership comes with some headaches but with the appreciation, principal pay down, and freedom to do whatever you want with the house, it is totally better than renting!
Even when I'm jealous because I'm behind on something, Im still happy for people who reach milestones.
I'm sorry, I found you by accident on UA-cam...you are Hilarious and I love your videos, preach it girl, speak your TRUTH! I'm in the market to purchasing my 1st home, I will take your lessons to heart - so as the voice of the silent majority - Thank you. Hope I have neighbors as cool as you one day!!!
I am preparing myself to own my first home. Thank you for sharing your experience. This is very informative.
Yesss!! I've been studying for my real estate license since January. Go for it girl!!!
how long does the process take to get your RE license?
I live in Canada and when I saw what you could buy for 600 000 dollars in Texas I was shocked....you guys can get a full on mansion!!!
As another millennial working to get her real estate license, I say go for it! It's super easy to sign up for online courses and it's pretty cheap too so I don't really see any downside. If you're going to buy or sell even 1 house in your lifetime, it seems super worth it (especially since there are so many more no-fee-brokerages popping up where you can park your license after you get it)!
Congratulations For Your New House.I Hope You & Shelby all of u grow up and touch the hight
Love that you've been doing these videos about home ownership and the buying process. It's been super helpful as I try to figure this out!
You definitely learn as you go! When we sold our house we left it spotless but I know that is not always the norm. There we didn’t know our neighbors but we love the neighbors in our new neighborhood.
MONICA, CONGRATULATIONS!
Way to go in going after the things you want in and out of your life. The keyword being YOUR life. Meaning everything and everyone you surround yourself. I'd say from the outside looking in that you are doing pretty good.
As for your new neighbors hang in there eventually they will warm up to you. Give them time to get to know you and you them. It could be that you might end up being the welcome to the neighborhood greeter. You mentioned there were several homes that have sold since your purchase, no doubt more will follow.
The point I'm trying to make is that you have a chance to change the current stuffy culture in your neighborhood. When you see new people moving in or that just moved in on your street somewhat close to your home. Buy a small plant or something as a gestor towards establishing a neighborly relationship. Hopefully, it will catch on and others will pay it forward to newbies on your street.
Of course, you might run into people who just do not want to bother knowing there neighbors and that's fine too. Just let them be and don't worry they will let you know in their own ways. So it won't be too hard to figure out.
Monica, I wish much happiness and success in your new journey.
im so happy for you give me motivation to sell my house and buy a new one
Love how transparent you are about these things!
I totally recommend hiring move-in cleaners to come clean before you move in! And, if you have carpets, to get them professionally cleaned as well. Totally worth the money
I don’t know much about Seattle but I imagine like any other big city, the value will continue to go up. Congratulations on your purchase!! Wishing you the best of luck on your future endeavors! 💕 I love seeing a younger woman doing this!
If you’re passionate about becoming a real estate agent, 100% do it!! Even if it doesn’t end up really working out, or you don’t love it, you’ll never regret those life experiences.
Plus, you have the added bonus of not needing to quit one job to pursue another. This could give you some great content that I personally would love to watch! 💜
Bought a house this month and I'm so glad you've been doing this!! It echoes sooo much of what I've learned.
Yes, get your license!! I’m only an ISA for a local brokerage but I love being in this industry and I know you’d love it too! My cousin is an agent in Dallas and she paid for Zillow leads and she’s already gotten 3 houses under contract in the last month only from Zillow leads! Do it do it do it
Me and my BF bought out first house in may but don't get to move in until january 2021.. Obviously the sellers sold so early because of covid-19 and fear that the market would go down (and they already bought a new house).
We used that long move in date to get a better deal, from 420k to 400k, and the market has got up ever since.. They made a bad move because like 99% of the houses on the market in the entire city goes for asking or above. Can't wait until we get to move in!!! :) (btw I live in the 3rd largest city in Sweden).
I learned alot from buying not only house for first time but also it being flip house.
I just bought my first house & the previous owner died there as well. Not only that, but she was one of my customers @ my store as well. I hope to make her proud. 🙂😍🥰
It's different in other countries. People are more friendly and open when new neighbors are coming in. Make sure you have a will in place.
Interesting video Monica! I am starting to think about getting into the real estate business, potentially buying a place to rent out. Maybe in the future you can talk more about renting to your roommates or what your plan is for the Palm Springs house (renting to tenants, airbnb, or whatever your plan may be). I think renting would be a great investment opportunity.
I'm happy for you! I couldn't imagine the feeling being able to buy a home in the location you want to live.
#6 is a HUGE one. I remember when I bought my house in LA, several co-workers/friends would just talk about how annoyed they were that they couldn't buy a home vs. being happy for me. It always made me feel really awkward and dumb for even talking about it. People would also assume that I was secretly rich too-when in reality I was so poor at the time lol.
You said that having neighbors could be so much worse than what it is now and let me tell you that is true.
My parents friends had terrible neighbors, they threatened the husband cussed at the kids, and even more. My parent’s friends were planning to move, but thankfully their neighbors moved before they did, so they didn’t have to move. They were not mean to them at all had nothing bad to do with them, who knows why they acted like that. Neighbors can be so much worse than what you have right now and be grateful. ;D I just wanted to tell you btw THIS IS A TRUE STORY!
The number of HORRIBLE neighbors out there just goes to show how many horrible people there are. I've had a couple myself. Sorry for the depressing thought!
We're getting ready to buy a house in Seattle this next year, so very helpful!
I am happy to help you! Send me a message :) - Cyrus Fiene, Coldwell Banker Bain
First time home buyers, make sure you have your agent write in to have the place professionally cleaned, yard maintained and utilities on until closing. Things that can really put a damper on your new purchase if those aren’t already taken care of!
i watched every single ad just because those numbers girl
The content you have been making lately has been absolutely on point. I love you and your channel so much , Monica. Keep up the wonderful work as always. Also, I’ve been loving the podcast!😊💗
Thank you so much!
Monica Church you are very welcome :)
go for it! i am an agent , a new one and it really is a fulfillment when u help people reach one of the biggest milestones in life. its gonna be more exciting for your channel but also time-consuming .. always loved these videos from you.
As a realtor/broker in Washington state and around the Seattle area I thought a lot of this was good information! The only thing I would say that from a realtor’s perspective may be misleading is the FOMO. In our current market, you do have to jump on a house when you like it because the amount of offers and bidding wars happening right now are unreal. If you don’t offer when you want, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to win the next one either. And as you said too, your house has appreciated $65k in one year, so if someone is looking for a year, a house that was once available when they first started looking may be entirely out of their price range when it comes up again. If you’re looking into real estate you seem to have a good understanding from the get go and that is definitely really helpful!
Monica, thank you for sharing. And I’m proud of you!
You are right. Bought my first house at 23 years old with my boyfriend and some of my friends was not excited for me... we’re not friends anymore 😂 People are jealous sometimes but if they can’t be happy for you, they don’t deserve to be your friend😚
I had the oppossite experience when me and my husband bought our first flat. We also look like we might be one of the youngest couples in the neighborhood, but we got to know all our neighbors and talk to them regularly and keep up with what's going on around the area. We're lucky that in Europe interest rates are so low (cause property prices are also super high in some EU countries), so the majority of our repayments are mostly equity even though we just bought the house last year.
Congratulations! I am always so happy to see young people invest in housing. Definitely put down as much as you can per month to get that interest down as quick as possible. Make the sacrifices early. Also, find other ways to bring in revenue. Local to me, renting driveway space is popular, for instance.
I'M LOVING YOUR CONTENT RIGHT NOW
Ahhh thank you for #3. Just made an offer on a house and the sellers went with another offer and was having major FOMO. Good reminder that others will come up for sale :)
Love how open you were about all this!
I appreciate it so much because I plan to buy within 6 months.
You're growing!!!! I love your content, it just gets better and better, and look at that glow up. You look amazing and your hair is growing! Love you and your channel
I have a coding assignment due 11:59 pm and I can't stop watching this video.
The way she says "It's so easy!", I remember my CS Professor. xD
YES BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT
#6 hit hard. I am buying my first home and i was so excited to tell my siblings but they didn’t congratulate me. It was so strange because I know they love me, but it genuinely felt like they were upset. Was not expecting that. Now I don’t wanna tell my friends or cousins 😕 still happy that I am buying a house though but yes, most people will not be happy for you. As the saying goes, your friends want you to do well, but not better than them.
Now go get your house reappraised to you can remove your PMI since you no have enough equity to cover 20% of the loan. yes, your property tax will go up but not more than PMI and that means more to the principle.
Monica Thankyou for this video ! My house is closing on August 31st ! This video was very helpful
I love your new hair color!
A good tip for paying principle is to try to make at least 1 full payment just to principle a year. it apparently cuts down on the time on the loan by a good amount. I currently pay 10% of my monthly payment to principle alone so it actually adds up to 120% by the end of the year. Also depending how your escrow is set up be prepared for a jump in your monthly bill at the start of your second year owning the house(so if your first payment was November 2019 you might see a jump November 2020).
A sense of community in Seattle totally depends on your neighborhood. I felt the way you do on Cap Hill, but feel totally different in my current neighborhood. It's amazing!
Erica's Everyday where is your current neighborhood?
Im a real estate agent in los angeles, i dont help others buy or sell because it very hard to get clients, so i simply just buy my own houses and pocket in the money which is super helpful!
I rent in Bellevue, currently. I wish I could buy a house, even in renton, where I was raised.
I am proud of you that it happened for you, though. I definitely am not mad that you got a home in your dream neighborhood. You have worked hard to get where you are.
Wow you learned a lot!!! This is super helpful