01/12/2026
I wish more people understood this:
the best time to buy or sell isn’t always about the market — it’s about your life.
I’ve watched people thrive buying in “bad” markets, and I’ve seen others regret buying in “perfect” ones because the timing just wasn’t right for them.
•Your story matters more than the headlines.•
When we bought our first home, it wasn’t part of some big plan. We had a one-year-old. COVID had just hit, the world was shutting down, and we were living in a one-bedroom basement apartment. (Our landlord was amazing and he was so good to us— I still joke that I wish he could’ve moved with us.)
We originally planned to use our tax return for a trip to Hawaii. But somewhere between the uncertainty, the conversations about the economy, and dreaming about more space, we started casually asking ourselves: Do we travel… or do we look at buying a house? Both felt scary.
So we decided to “just see” what we’d need to do to work toward buying. We fully expected a long to-do list before being pre-approved — and instead heard, “Here’s what you’re approved for.”
The market was tough. Homes were selling for way over asking, buyers had more cash than we did, the market was limited, and most of what we loved felt out of reach. Then our landlord was on us about our timeline so he could rent the apartment when we left. We were discouraged. But we waited. We weighed our options. And we waited for the right situation.
Here’s what I learned: just because it feels impossible right now — or something seems to be standing in your way — doesn’t mean the right opportunity won’t come along.
If homeownership is a dream you’ve been quietly carrying, I urge you to start a conversation with a lender. With the right team of professionals, the timeline might be shorter than you think.
And if you’re wondering whether it might be time to make a move, I’m always happy to talk it through — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation. 🤍
