Thirty Days of Real Estate with Dallice: Overview
Thirty days of Real Estate is a new series I’m putting together. People NEED information. They want to begin planning a real estate purchase but are super busy with life and a helping hand, could be the difference between staying on the fence or getting off it.
Over the next 30 Days I’ll deliver 5 minute messages that will help take you from renter (or living with thy family) to owner of you own little slice of real estate. Or from owner of something else, to investor and owner of multiple properties.
I’m located in Boulder CO but you don’t need to be. Thirty Days of Real Estate is designed to answer basic questions, help you take the first step toward buying real estate. It will give you the confidence to achieve what I already know is possible for you.
Who am I and why would you give even 5 minutes of your day to me? Good question!
I was born and raised in New Zealand. The oldest child of hard working parents and not a particularly gifted kid, if we are being honest! I am open to new ideas, a self driven person and a persistent one too. A type A personality by all accounts. I knew from a young age my future held travel and living abroad, meeting new people, trying knew things and eventually working for myself. I value good communication and common sense and striving to achieve the REAL potential that is within. Specific goals change along the way but values generally don’t and that’s a good thing, in my opinion.
I landed in the US with a work visa and a backpack in 2002 – 16 years ago. My job paid $225/week and I had no credit history or relationships to leverage. Oh yeah and my degree in haematology… Foreign and not super valuable here. I was now an innkeeper (read: chambermaid) and very grateful for my new home, job, friends, colleagues. Life was an adventure and it was good but I knew I had more potential trapped inside.
In 2005, with a Massachusetts real estate license in hand, I moved to Boulder Colorado and into a small rental house in the Martin Acres neighborhood. I began my transformation into a Colorado Realtor, embracing continuing education and new Realtor and client relationships. I supplemented my friendships with those I gathered from Craigslist groups. (No lie!)
2007 was when my husband and I purchased the rental we were living in and I took my love of interior design, color, staging and all manner of DIY projects, to another level. If it could be painted, it was. If it could be planted and cultivated, I did it. Sweat equity is how I added value to the little brick ranch that was 285 Martin Drive, in a housing market that was stagnant.
In 2012 my husband and I separated and divorced. If you have been there, you’ll understand me, when I say divorce is hell. It saps your confidence and energy, it brings out the worst moods and darkest thoughts you’ll have ever experienced. You question friendships, your own competence and the ability to survive this challenge. For every ying there is a yang and divorce (on the other side) eventually makes a person stronger, more independent, competent and confident. In other words, better! The word Survive is gradually replaced by Thrive. It was at this time that having kept the house, I threw some more energy into making it a tad more efficient and beautiful.
The blank canvas and blank stare that was my life right then, was the perfect time to open my mind to new possibilities with my real estate also. The day I realized that my work goals had to be relationship oriented to match my personality, was the day my job and happiness changed forever.
Today I’m a successful business woman, owner/founder of Silver Fern Homes, an investor, property manager, landlord and proud Airbnb host. I still do a lot of home improvement stuff for myself and my clients, but I have another skill to offer too – 2017 was the year I planned and executed “popping the top” on that little Martin Acres brick ranch: 285 Martin Dr.
To truly understand ones own needs and preferences in such a way they could be communicated to an architect and builder is a skill and accomplishment I am proud of. Overcoming challenges related to budgeting, timelines and permitting, are a feather in my cap. But perhaps most importantly, navigating a good and healthy personal relationship through a major remodel, is crucial to one’s happiness! We’ll talk about that in another post.
Right now, what you need to know is over the next 30 days, I will cover topics that are relevant and important. I was where you are now and I got to be where I am now through hard work and gradual education. I’m here to help bridge the gap for you, so your journey doesn’t have to be as difficult or slow as mine was!
Thirty Days of Real Estate
We’ll start with foundation topics and move through to closing on your new property.
Week one: Down payments – saving, budgeting, time line, credit score, home buying programs that may help you get a foot in the door when you thought it was not yet possible.
Week two: Removing or working with obstacles such as tax liens and credit card debt, issues related to divorce and bankruptcy. Addressing goals and what is a must versus a preference. How to get alerted to new listings before Zillow and Co.
Week three: Viewing properties, making an offer. Let’s talk about price and terms.
Week four: Under contract – Doing your due diligence, step by step all the way to Closing. Honest pitfalls and tips.
Whether you start your day by planting the seeds of goals in your waking mind, or end your day steering goals into dreams, stick with this. It’s just 5 minutes and you were probably going to waste it on celeb gossip or staring into space anyway… be honest!
Thanks for reading and see you again soon. 😉