Anna's Blog

A buyer-client of mine recently mentioned to me that someone had told her that buying a home was a bad investment compared to investing in the stock market. Well, that may be true depending on where you live and/or what stocks or bonds you have invested in. But overall I think there are so many great reasons for owning your own home (including being a good investment):

1. Lifestyle: Since it is YOUR home you get to pick your lifestyle! If you travel a lot for work, then maybe a condominium is for you. Or if you love to garden and have lots of pets, then maybe a home in the country with some land is for you. You decide your quality of life!

2. Pay yourself: Instead of paying your landlord’s mortgage, you pay your own and invest in yourself!

3. Tax Benefits: Yes, there are several! You can deduct your real estate taxes, your mortgage interest – talk with your accountant about these great deductions!

4. Pride of Homeownership: This one is HUGE! I remember my first evening in my first home – I had an incredible feeling of pride at the accomplishment of buying my first home. And I could paint all the walls any wild color I wanted to without anyone’s permission!

So is homeownership for you right now? Maybe! You get to make the decision!

I recently attended a real estate course that focused on efficiency (one of my favorite topics), organization (another fav), motivation (go go go!) and of course real estate (the best!). The instructor talked a bit about something called a “John Goddard List.” John Goddard was a guy who at the age of fifteen wrote down 127 life goals... many of which he has achieved! If you’d like to look at his life list, check out:

http://www.johngoddard.info/life_list.htm

The idea is that we all have things we want to do in our lifetime, but how many of us write them down and then check them off as we accomplish our dreams? It sounds kind of hokey, but it is actually very cool. I recently started my life list… and since writing down my list, I have already achieved some of my goals!!

Here is a sampling:

Learn to Row (crew): Achieved May 2007

Row in a Regatta: Achieved October 1007

Learn to Salsa Dance: I am working on this one now!

Some goals I hope to achieve soon:

Travel to Cuba and see where my grandparents were born

Go skydiving (aiyiyi!)

Visit all of the locations from the James Bond movies (OK, I’m a dork, but I just love those movies!)