Welcome to Homeowner Diarie$, a collection of anonymous diary entries that break down the barriers between you and buying, selling, or investing in real estate. If you’re ready to submit your Homeowner Diary entry, click here.

What amenities did your home come with?

Pool, in-ground jacuzzi

Relationship status at the time of purchase:

With a Partner

Did you share finances? How did you split the finances/purchase funds?

I paid for the majority of the down payment. He paid for about half of the furniture. We pay for the monthly loan based on our incomes. He pays 60%, I pay 40%.

“He pays 60%, I pay 40%.”

Where did you get the money for your down payment or for the property if you paid in cash?

Parents

Are you and have you always been solely responsible for your mortgage payment?

Yes

Did your relationship status change while owning your home? If so, what was the impact (if any) on your ownership?

No

Do you rent out your property/properties?

Yes

Tell us details about rental income you make from your property and what type of rentals you operate:

I own a separate property in Palm Springs that I use for short-term rentals. In 2023 I made around $80,000 in revenue.

“In 2023 I made around $80,000 in revenue.”

How did you plan for purchasing your home(s)?

My parents basically forced me. I never thought it was possible at my age with the income I had, but they decided they'd rather see their money in an investment than just sitting in the bank. They knew a lot about purchasing homes so gave us a lot of good advice. We also got lots of great advice from our realtor and financial advisor.

Have you/did you feel any pressure or expectation to buy a home? In what way did your family/friends or social circle impact your decisions to buy and/or sell?

My parents pressured me into buying a home, however, I actually feel the opposite pressure from some of my friends / social circle. I'm seen as being very young for being a homeowner and I'm the only one in my friend group who is. I think most people are jealous and envious, so I actually often feel embarrassed that I own a home because that fact can bring out others' insecurities and give them a reason to think negatively of me.

 “I actually often feel embarrassed that I own a home because that fact can bring out others' insecurities and give them a reason to think negatively of me.”

What amount of risk do you believe you've taken on through the process of owning and/or selling real estate?

2 / 5

If you'd like to explain your risk number, please share.

I purchased my home in an area that has a solid history of increasing home value [San Diego], so I feel very confident that it will only increase in value over time. I do think we paid more than what it was worth in order to secure it since at that time the market was so crazy, so [we] may not make the most return we could when we sell the home.

If you could do it all again, would you? Is there anything you would change?

Yes, I don't think I'd change anything.

 What is next for you in real estate?

I plan to purchase additional short-term rental properties and a better home for myself to live in that's more comfortable, in a better neighborhood and higher quality. 

Tell us about your experience with your Realtor (if you have one!)

I actually did use an amazing realtor for my San Diego property. The thing that sticks out the most is I genuinely believe she had my best interest at heart instead of just making money for herself. She did her due diligence to look into the history and current state of each property and recommended we do NOT buy several properties even though we loved them. It ended up being the right decision and I appreciated her honesty and genuine nature. She also had a very thorough knowledge of the industry which made us trust that she knew exactly what she was doing.

Tell us about anything unexpected (good or bad) throughout your buying, selling, or ownership experience.

[I] didn't know it'd be so hard to secure homeowners insurance. I do wish the property taxes were more laid out to us before purchasing because those were a BIG expense to be surprised with. Even when you buy a house that doesn't appear to need much maintenance, the cost of maintenance is WAY more than you think. It does benefit you to have a male figure to work with contractors. As a woman, I was quoted $18,000 for the same job my boyfriend was quoted for $1,200. 

Please add any information that deepens the story about you and the homes you've bought and sold.

There's no way I would be able to own the home without my parents' support. They paid cash for the house so we could secure it and then we have a mortgage loan through the bank to pay them back for it. 

“There's no way I would be able to own the home without my parents' support. They paid cash for the house so we could secure it and then we have a mortgage loan through the bank to pay them back for it.”

Like what you read or have questions for our homeowner? Drop them in the comments below. *Friendly Reminder: Kindness always wins. 

The first step to getting ready to buy or sell your home is to get your finances in order and speak with a professional about what home buying or selling may look like for you. If you’re looking for a realtor and team in San Diego, click here. If you want to connect with an agent and real estate team out of San Diego, click here.

Do you have a Homeowner Diary you’d like to share? Submit it with us here.

Have questions? Email us.

The goal of Homeowner Diarie$ is to share stories about how others have bought and sold real estate and does not serve as advice, or reflect the views of Better Mondays.