So (almost) 18 years ago, it was September of 1999, I was a 21 year old young woman wanting to move out of my mom's house and being raised by a Real Estate Broker there would only be one option when moving out. Buying a home. There was no renting. Renting was not an option in my family. So it looked like I was gonna start home shopping, The problem of course was... I was only 21. I didn't make a lot of money, in fact I made very very little money. I also didn't shave any money in the bank, so how on earth was I going to make this happen. Doing it with help was also not an option. In my family, what we do we do on our own. Pride is a big thing and several times almost caused the death of me. So my mom started looking up condos that I could afford and I started talking to my job about taking a loan out on my 401k.
After shopping around and making a couple of offers that didn't go through I found this tiny little perfect place. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, wood burning fireplace, washer and dryer in the unit, built in microwave and 568 square feet. Ok, I know that sounds about the size of a cardboard box, but I will tell you that at 21 years old and moving out for the first time into a place that was going to be ALL MINE it was heavenly!!! Escrow closed in October of 1999 and I was now officially a home owner and leaving the nest. 10/29/99 = most exciting and freeing day ever! Not gonna lie. also a little bit scary.
The plan was to live here for 2 years or so and then sell and upgrade. The PLAN I say. Well that didn't exactly work out. Life began to steam roll over everything and I was never in a position to move up. I stayed here for 12 years. Almost to the day as a matter of fact. I spent a large portion of my life in this condo and made many many memories here. It was still my first great accomplishment.
When I did finally decide to upgrade and buy a house (and when I say house I mean a real grown up house lol) it was 12 years later in October 2011. I was so excited and didn't even look back much because I was planning to keep the condo and rent it out. So I wasn't really saying goodbye and didn't have that walking away feeling.
Well here it is. 18 years later and I decide it's time to close the chapter. I listed my condo on April 4th and by 10 the following morning I had a cash offer. A low ball offer albeit, but an offer none the less. after a few counter offers back and forth and my eventual rejection to the low ball offers (Yes I can be stubborn and did I mention that I have a pride issue???) They finally came back with what I said i was willing to accept and we had an accepted offer by mid afternoon. Cash offer with a requested 14 day escrow. We closed escrow and my first home was no longer mine by April 19th. Talk about moving fast. I didn't really have the opportunity to process that this huge part of my life just came to an end. My first home away from home. My first major adult milestone which was conquered far before I was truly an adult if you ask me. 18 YEARS!!!! Now I am feeling the moment of saying goodbye.
Now I am feeling the chapter on that moment of my life actually closing. It's a bittersweet reality but an exciting one all the same. It was hard to say goodbye but I also knew I had to say goodbye to really move on from that time of my life and everything that came along with it and I can now excel and and enjoy my life in my current wonderful home.
Goodbye loving little condo, You kept me warm, and dry, and safe. We had been through a lot with the potential wildfire dangers up to our parking lot, the coyotes at our front door step, the flooding caused by my neighbors that separated us for several months but gave you a beautiful face lift with a completely rebuilt inside. You offered me some of the most BEAUTIFUL views with your greenbelt in the back and the lake in the center of the complex that I loved to take many many walks around while feeding the ducks and watching the fish swim by.
You were a wonderful first home and I say goodbye.
