When we found our house two years ago, we were absolutely ELATED to go under contract and start the process of owning our first home! We were lucky enough to find a house in such great condition within our budget, because two years later, that just doesn’t exist anymore. I am SO grateful for that timing 🙂
But, homeownership has taught me a lot of things.
- Comparison TRULY is the thief of everything. When I start to compare my home to someone else’s, sometimes I feel kind of bummed out because their house is “better.” I’m not sure by what standards, but that feeling can creep in. I’ve been working so hard lately on focusing on what brings me joy in my home, and honestly, just about all of it does. I love our archway; our hardwood floors; our beautiful desk Steven built; the beautiful room for my daughter; and our purple wall. The list goes on and on!
- Patience. Lord, has being a homeowner taught me patience. There is nothing structurally wrong with our home, but some updates need to be made, and changes for the sake of cosmetics need to be made. But, that all costs money. We are not willing to go further into debt to do these things to our home because they don’t risk our health or safety. It’s teaching us patience in saving up (no matter how long it takes) to pay for projects out of pocket.
- If you’re not doing it alone, the right partner matters. Steven and I balance each other out in this. Some things that overwhelm me (like when our tree came down) don’t bother Steven and vice versa. It makes it so much easier to get through the tough spots. Speaking of, it’s so nice to have a partner that is willing to do so much on their own. Steven and I both do a lot of work outside, and it’s awesome that it’s not left to one person all the time. But cutting all that firewood? Haha, that’s all Steven, and he looks so good doing it 😉
Some people hate the idea of homeownership, and that’s fine! For me, I LOVE having our own home. We rented for four years before buying and I wish we could’ve done it sooner. Now that we have Lily, I can’t ever imagine going back to an apartment while we’re in Maine. Having your own house is a lot of work, but I feel like it’s so incredibly worth it!
How about you?! What are your thoughts about owning a home?
Linda is a Maine-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com. To sign up for the monthly newsletter full of encouragement and real life, click here!
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