Moving into your first house is a huge milestone in life.  It’s exciting, and the different steps to find it, acquiring the keys and living in it are a real emotional roller coaster.  But in the end, you get to spend time with your friends and family in your home.  Relax on the couch while staring out at your lawn (even if it’s just a patch of dirt), and enjoy homeownership’s benefits.  It’s pretty much the best thing ever.

In this blog, we will go through the different steps and give you some questions that will guide you in telling the story.

The motivation

Whether from living with your parent or inside a shrinking apartment, it comes a day when you want to own your place.

• What was the primary motivation for acquiring a house?
• How was the finance at this time?  Did you have some money aside and receive an amount to get started?
• Did you go to the bank to get pre-approved?

The search for finding the one

Once the decision is in place, it is time to search for the one.  Your future home meeting as much as possible, all your expectations.

• When did you start your search, and using which method?
• Did you use the help of a realtor?
• How many did you visit, and was there anything standing out as positive or negative?
• Did you find more than one that caught your eye?
• How did you find the one, and what did you like most about it?

Making an offer

You finally found a house matching your criteria.  Let the negotiation begins.

• How much was it, and who was the owner?
• How went the negotiation?
• Was there any bidding war?
• What were the final price and conditions?

Visit the bank to get a mortgage

Now time to get the money and plan the mortgage.

• How did the process obtain the mortgage, and what were the terms?
• How did you feel during the process and then attached to such a big loan?

Notarizing it and getting the key

The final step is to become the owner officially.

• When did you receive the keys?
• How went the transactions?

First visit as the owner

You are now the new owner of the house.

• How was your first visit as a new owner?
• Is there anything to do or visions of projects to do?

Moving in

Time to bring your stuff into the new house.

• When did the move happen, and how big was it?
• Did you hire movers, or did you have help?
• How did you feel doing all the unboxing?
• Moments to remember or to forget?
• How did you feel in your new home after everyone left?

Settling in

Everything is now in your home; time to discover in-depth.

• How were the first nights and mornings in the house?
• Were there any problems to fix once you moved, and how did it go?
• How was the neighbourhood?
• How were the stores or groceries close to the house?

If you plan to write your biography, check this post about Drawing your timeline.  The experience of acquiring a house is worth adding to it.