Ah, California—big homes, endless sunshine, and zero clue about utility bills. That’s where my story begins. Moving to the East Coast was a sobering lesson in weather, scaling back, and a crash course in what not to do when buying a home.
I’ll never forget purchasing my first house. This was long before my real estate days, back when I was clueless but determined to prove I had it all together. My friends were already teasing me about my “Cali quirkiness,” so I decided to show them I’d done my homework.
Spoiler alert: I had not.
The Newbie Realtor, Medical Journals and Empathy…
Being impulsive at best, I didn’t research my agent. I just went with the first person I found, who—unbeknownst to me—was fresh out of real estate school. Now, before I offend anyone, let me say we’ve all been newbies at some point. But let’s just say this particular newbie came with… extra challenges.
Instead of sending me listings, she sent me pages of medical journal excerpts. Why? Because she was convinced she had every condition under the sun. When we went to showings (and there were a lot, because I had no idea what I wanted and she didn’t have a mentor), she’d hand me her latest lab results instead of property details. Weekdays were reserved for her medical specialist appointments, so I only got weekends—when she’d try out new pills and elixirs, with detailed updates on their effects.
Honestly, if her goal was to motivate me to make a quick decision, she couldn’t have devised a better strategy!
You’re probably wondering why I didn’t switch agents. The simple answer: I felt sorry for her. She had two kids, an ailing mother, and had just quit her government job to go all-in on real estate—something she clearly wasn’t great at. I thought, “Maybe if I stick it out, I can at least help her close this one deal.” So I stayed.
A Settlement to Remember
When I finally found a house, things didn’t exactly smooth out. She had to ask the listing agent how to write the offer (no joke), and when the agent declined (as she should have done – talk about conflict of interest!), my agent’s broker stepped in to help.
The home inspection? A breezy 20 minutes—because what did I know? The appraisal came in higher than the sales price, but she didn’t explain equity, so I just nodded along, clueless.
Then came settlement day. I sat next to my agent, who was frantically slathering Calamine lotion on a fresh breakout of hives and swigging Benadryl like it was water. By the time we were done, she was actually asleep at the table! I had to wake her so she could call someone to pick her up. I wish I were making this up.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, it’s hilarious—now. At the time, it was chaos, stress, and pure confusion. But that experience taught me so much about what buyers need: a knowledgeable, reliable agent who’s focused on them.
When I became a Realtor, I made it my mission to ensure no one else would have to go through what I did. Whether it’s explaining equity, finding a mentor when needed, or making sure my clients have all the information they need (minus the medical journals), I take pride in being the resource my clients deserve.
Do You Remember Your First Home?
Buying your first home is always memorable—whether it’s smooth sailing or a comedy of errors like mine. What was your experience like? I’d love to hear your story. Let’s swap first-home tales—you bring the coffee (or tea for me), and I’ll bring the laughs!