WHICH GLEN ARE YOU? A GUIDE TO FINANCING YOUR FIRST HOME

You’re at the edge of the pool afraid to jump in because it might be too cold. You’re at the dance with nary a charming word to get your crush to share a dance. You’re writing a blog post and you’re reluctant to come up with a third perfect example to open with. This is you getting in your head and it’s that same thinking that keeps so many eligible people from owning their own home. When considering buying a house you may find that you are talking yourself out of it without even having all the info yet. For some reason, many of us have a doubtful little voice in our heads that makes obstructive statements.

That’s Negative Glen and Negative Glen is afraid of possibilities. The key is to present yourself with questions that create opportunities to finding a solution rather than negative statements that end things before they even start. This is where Positive Glen claps back with a question that sets things in motion.

Negative Glen: A down payment on a house is too much. Positive Glen: What options are there when coming up with a down payment on a house?

Now you are thinking proactively! There are many options to help new home buyers with down payments through city/county programs and state housing finance agencies. California Housing Finance Agency(CalHFA) programs are a great resource for down payment and closing cost assistance. There are lots of options for assistance when you start turning over stones. For veterans and active military, you can finance a house with no money down through a VA Loan. These loan officers want to get you into your dream home. It’s just a matter of starting the conversation.

Negative Glen: I should just stay renting because it’s what I’ve always done. Positive Glen: What benefits are there to buying rather than renting?

There are so many wonderful advantages to owning your home and transitioning away from renting. One of which is having complete control of your space and being able to make it your own. After all, this is also an investment. So adding personal touches, additions, and renovations not only make your space the ideal home for you, it also adds to the value of your property. Beyond that, rent hikes will never be an issue again. Owning your home adds a great deal of stability to your life. Landlords can unexpectedly raise rent or even sell the building and have you frantically looking for a new place to reside. Put that behind you and feel comfort in the security that is homeownership.

Negative Glen: If I get a house then I will be stuck in one place. Positive Glen: What can I do with my home if I want to travel?

Owning your home does not mean you are cemented to one location forever. As mentioned previously, your home is an excellent investment with many, many options. If you are traveling short term you can utilize services like Airbnb and Vrbo. If you want to set some roots somewhere else for more of a long-term endeavor your house can help fund that chapter. Utilizing your home to rent to tenants is a very solid way to generate another source of income. Your investment can be working for you!

It’s time to shut off the negative statements that stop you from moving forward on your dreams and start asking the questions that present choices, possibilities, and options. Take the plunge and join the pool party, cross the dance floor and strike up a conversation, and simply don’t let yourself defeat yourself. People just like you are entering their dream home every day and thinking positively. I bet some of them are even named Glen.