7 Mistakes I've Learned From Buying My First House! 

One thing with home ownership, don't forget to keep track of the maintenance costs.. Not decorating, but like eventual roof repairs, siding, furnace replacement, etc... That will show your true return of investment.

My father told me many years ago that not everyone is happy when you start to become successful! Truth.

I feel like 20s is such a weird age. I have some friends who are getting married at like 23 and my friends will talk shit behind their back and I just don't get it... they're happy and it doesnt affect you? If your friends want to get married, move in with a boyfriend, have a baby, buy a house, WHATEVER the case is, just be happy for them. I do think a lot of it stems from jealousy and I for sure have been on BOTH ends of that. I think its just something we all need to actively remind ourselves to UPLIFT our friends, even if they have different life choices/paths from ours

Put: "To be professionally cleaned" in the purchase agreement next time.

Those friends who can’t be happy for you aren’t your friends. My lesson of 2020. A real friend doesn’t compare nor compete. They know that we all glow up in seasons that don’t always align perfectly. Don’t be friends with hating people. Sucks when it’s family though.

Yes Monica become a real estate agent!! You’d be so good at it Your so nice! I think people would enjoy working with you. Not an agent yet but I’m in the process of studying for my test now lol

This is the first video i’ve seen where someone has mentioned the whole “not everyone will be happy for you” thing! I am the youngest child of 3 (i’m 25) and my boyfriend and I just bought our first place together. Half of my family was so excited and supportive, the other half ... well lol. It makes me feel better that other people have experienced this too! I love how open you are about going through all this “adult” stuff, and making it seem not so scary. Keep doing your thing girl 🥰

I think that's definitely true about people not sharing in your excitement, whether it's buying a house, getting married/engaged, a new car, having a baby, etc etc. Overall you always kind of have to live your life your you, and you can't NEED other people to be excited and happy too. Some times it is like with buying a house, it might be a jealousy thing and a bad reminder of where they are NOT able to do yet. But then certain things people may just not be excited/overly happy about, and it's just simply because it's not THEIR life and so while you may feel like it's super exciting and awesome, it just simply doesn't matter to them the same way it matters to you. Like I know someone who got pregnant and she was 20, and people were happy for her because that is what she wanted and it made her happy, but she was shocked they were not over the moon excited and begging to do baby things and her friends were not begging to play aunt. They were not jealous and they were happy for her, but they also were just at a point in their life where that's something that they particularly cared about, and when it comes to marriage, babies, buying a house etc. Those things affect the lives of the person doing those things, but to everyone else its doesn't affect them and so they naturally are not going to care as much or be as excited about it as if it were them.

Every house I have moved into REQUIRED me to give it a scrub down across every single inch. Bcuz you're right - it is NOT the same as renting an apartment where they have everything clean and move-in ready. Houses are different that way. From shampooing the carpets, to washing the baseboards, and yes - the kitchen cabinets should ALWAYS be scrubbed inside and out!!! New shelf paper is a nice touch too. You just don't want other peoples dirt, and schmultz on all your stuff - right?!! Or is that just me? This next part doesn't help when YOU move into a new place, but it DOES work when someone else moves in to your street. It's a helpful way to make new friends. When you see someone moving into their new house, walk over, introduce yourself, and strike up a conversation. Start helping to move boxes into the house. Just jump right in! After all, its really not a good time for these new people to stop their work and have a friendly chat. So talk and walk! Take the initiative, lend a helping hand. If this person (or people) seem even the smallest bit compatible with yourself, go ahead and take the next step. Which is: Offer to help wash down the kitchen cabinets. Yes, it's better than carrying heavy boxes!!! Yes, it's a huge job. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, you CAN do this. Which is why the new person will really appreciate your help! Insist on doing it! Just pick up the Windex, and get to work on those cabinets!! This gives you both the opportunity to talk to each other during this Spring Cleaning job. And by the end of it, you will probably have made a new friend. I did this with someone 30 years ago. She moved in across the street from me. And yes, she was surprised that anyone would offer to scrub down the kitchen cabinets! I only spent 2 hours over there while my baby was at home napping, so it wasn't like I was in their hair all day. I gotta say, it was one of the best things I've done - EVER!!! Since that day, she and I have now been best friends for more than 30 years!!! And it probably never would have happened if I had not made that first move, and offered to help. ♡

Love this! 24 and bought my first house December 2019. Also trying to build equity and looking at becoming a real estate agent!!

your hair is AMAZINGGG. and need this lol I'm house hunting right now

I'm also in Seattle and buying anything decent in this area seems like such a huge financial commitment that I find it much more stress-free to just rent inexpensive places, save a bunch of money, and enjoy life while I advance in my career and earn more money. I'm ok with waiting to buy until the mortgage for a house I like represents a small portion of my monthly income.

I really appreciate your videos about home buying and ownership. I'm 26 and looking to purchase my first home. Your videos have been super encouraging and educational. Thank you! Please please please keep them up!

I’m buying my first house so this was fun to watch :)

Love seeing younger creators make content like this! I want to be able to do things like this when I’m your age and have my money work for me. Love your videos and the Seattle content!

Monica, I say pursue anything and everything you're passionate about because you have the talent and drive to be successful (and simultaneously create inspirational content for your viewers). I'm so excited to join you in your future. Also 20s are definitely weird - I have friends getting married and buying homes at 23 and here I am single, in school until I'm 28, and in student debt for almost as much as your mortgage. As dreamy as it sounds, your video made me realize that I'm not jealous of my friends; we have to remind ourselves that we're all in different stages of our lives and things will fall into place as they're meant to.

Been loving these home-buying/home ownership videos!

I really resonated with your segment on the reactions that you received upon buying your first home. It can be discouraging to have the people closest to you not be happy for your success and I've recently felt that same feeling. Like you said everyone is in different places in their lives and I loved your perspective on how to approach not the most positive reactions!

I'm renting my first apartment starting on Tuesday, and I love watching these videos of yours related to owning a house! My mom used to be a real estate agent and she really enjoyed it, it just was a lot of work at least here!

Love that you've been doing these videos about home ownership and the buying process. It's been super helpful as I try to figure this out!

We need a reaction video from Graham Stephan. Would love to see what he thinks!

Love how transparent you are about these things!

I’m happy for you. 😊You are doing a great job! Stay away from people that brings you down.

Hey Monica. I come from the future and I really hope you read this! I watched this and I think it's absolutely awesome how you just briefly talked about being interested in real estate, and getting your license. You also mentioned that you love the Seattle and Palm Springs market. Fast forward to today, you've gotten your license and bought another property in the Palm Springs!! DUDE, you are an absolute go-getter and a true inspiration. You know what you're interested in and you GO FOR IT rather than just let it marinate in your head and do nothing about it. I watch your videos cause i love your content, I find you relatable and your cinematography quality is fantastic but now, I just respect you so much and realize you're someone who has such inspiring traits!!!! You go girl!

I’m 26 and just bought my first house! I’m hopefully going to pay it off within the next 10 years and be completely debt free!

Love the way you tell stories, you can make everything super interesting

Bought a house this month and I'm so glad you've been doing this!! It echoes sooo much of what I've learned.

I'M LOVING YOUR CONTENT RIGHT NOW

GIRL LOOK AT YOUU! All successful n so young. Idk why anyone wouldn’t be supportive CONGRATS

I swear your house related videos are my favorite series on RU-vid 😂 Oddly specific series but it's true !

I'm happy for you! I couldn't imagine the feeling being able to buy a home in the location you want to live.

Love how open you were about all this! I appreciate it so much because I plan to buy within 6 months.

Monica, thank you for sharing. And I’m proud of you!

You are soooo soooo right with the point that not everyone will be excited for you! My childhood friend became distant as soon as I bought a house. We are 27 years old and she is in a different life situation, but man it sucks not having their support during a big life event

Lol even in Sims 4 when I play and the neighbors have the welcome to the neighborhood party, I end it the moment it starts and send them away lol

I am preparing myself to own my first home. Thank you for sharing your experience. This is very informative.

Hell yeah girl if you want to become a real estate agent, chase that dream!! If you have a passion for it, which you clearly do, then follow that road and see where it takes you. You built yourself a huge head-start in life and I love that you're taking advantage of that by following a new interest

You're growing!!!! I love your content, it just gets better and better, and look at that glow up. You look amazing and your hair is growing! Love you and your channel

never been this early! Love learning about these kinds of practical things 😄 helps a lot with adulting 💫

1.31 Million subscribers, damn you made it.Your channel was my fun serect at first....no longer a secret. I Love your vids forever.

Can relate 100% people get jealous when you're young and buy a house.

I was a first home owner last year too! Living in Alabama, however, made my experience much different. My neighbors are extremely nice, mortgage is way cheaper than renting, and most people here stay in the same house for decades. The city is much different so it’s good to hear a different perspective.

Congratulations For Your New House.I Hope You & Shelby all of u grow up and touch the hight

I don’t know much about Seattle but I imagine like any other big city, the value will continue to go up. Congratulations on your purchase!! Wishing you the best of luck on your future endeavors! 💕 I love seeing a younger woman doing this!

Thank you for making this video... I been thinking about it

I'm sorry, I found you by accident on RU-vid...you are Hilarious and I love your videos, preach it girl, speak your TRUTH! I'm in the market to purchasing my 1st home, I will take your lessons to heart - so as the voice of the silent majority - Thank you. Hope I have neighbors as cool as you one day!!!

Monica Thankyou for this video ! My house is closing on August 31st ! This video was very helpful

The content you have been making lately has been absolutely on point. I love you and your channel so much , Monica. Keep up the wonderful work as always. Also, I’ve been loving the podcast!😊💗

smashed the like button because i'm nosy and the financials is why i came (also bc i love monica)

im so happy for you give me motivation to sell my house and buy a new one

This is a great video. I made a HUGE payment towards my mortgage and then the amount I was paying towards interest dropped to basically nothing .and then my principal reduced SO fast and I paid off my house. Highly recommend if you can Do it!

Thanks so much for sharing about $$ situation at the end of the video on the internet! I've learned quite a bit from this video before purchasing my 1st home :D

Put an offer on a house today... I’m Hoping it works out. Perfect timing for this video!

thankss for teaching us what school didn't, ily

Everything you said resonated with me. All the things I learned after my first home purchase

Great advice and things to think about! Can’t wait to buy in the next couple of years

You definitely learn as you go! When we sold our house we left it spotless but I know that is not always the norm. There we didn’t know our neighbors but we love the neighbors in our new neighborhood.

Congratulations on your first year of ownership!! 🎉 Most of the time you just have to move the step forward the first time even if you have some uncertainty. I'd like to build or buy a tiny house someday to live with a friend or family of my own and considering the costs that comes with owning a tiny house.

Very helpful & love that you were so transparent about the financial side of things!! Love the house ownership content. Also just realized that the photo of you in the thumbnail of this video & the vlog about palm springs house offer are the same 😅

I really value the information you provide in your videos! Your communication style is super informative! I’ve been sooo picky with my real estate agents. I’d definitely choose you! Do it! I think you’d be great at it!:)

go for it! i am an agent , a new one and it really is a fulfillment when u help people reach one of the biggest milestones in life. its gonna be more exciting for your channel but also time-consuming .. always loved these videos from you.

So many good tips! I haven’t heard some of these from anyone else, and I’ve worked in mortgages lol. Thank you for the knowledge on how often very similar homes sell and FOMO! I was already having FOMO and we don’t even start officially searching until October 😅 Interesting to find about the online leasing contract service! Congrats on the home value spiking up so quickly!!

yasss me and my fami are looking for a house....we are cramped....but u give me so much inspiration.....AND YASSSS GOOOD FOR YOU

MONICA, CONGRATULATIONS! Way to go in going after the things you want in and out of your life. The keyword being YOUR life. Meaning everything and everyone you surround yourself. I'd say from the outside looking in that you are doing pretty good. As for your new neighbors hang in there eventually they will warm up to you. Give them time to get to know you and you them. It could be that you might end up being the welcome to the neighborhood greeter. You mentioned there were several homes that have sold since your purchase, no doubt more will follow. The point I'm trying to make is that you have a chance to change the current stuffy culture in your neighborhood. When you see new people moving in or that just moved in on your street somewhat close to your home. Buy a small plant or something as a gestor towards establishing a neighborly relationship. Hopefully, it will catch on and others will pay it forward to newbies on your street. Of course, you might run into people who just do not want to bother knowing there neighbors and that's fine too. Just let them be and don't worry they will let you know in their own ways. So it won't be too hard to figure out. Monica, I wish much happiness and success in your new journey.

Sometimes I play his music to keep him happy, oh my god that's hilarious and brilliant!

Thanks for the tip on getting cleaning done! I will try to have that arranged before I move everything in.

We're getting ready to buy a house in Seattle this next year, so very helpful!

I have a coding assignment due 11:59 pm and I can't stop watching this video. The way she says "It's so easy!", I remember my CS Professor. xD

Good for you guys and your household!!! 👍😎

hahaha omg the casual mentioning of the dead guy, had me rolling. Congrats on your home ownership!!

I bought a house a month ago. One thing I realized since I moved in was that the amount of projects I want to do isn't going to be done as early as you would like. My kitchen was the FIRST thing I was going to fix. I haven't gotten it done yet. Once you buy your house and move in then you see what the real condition is. You are right about the place not being deep cleaned. My kitchen cabinets are stained and look dirty. I don't want to unpack my kitchen all the way.

I bought a 50 year old duplex for 46,000, then I built 3 brand new single family homes, First was 114,000, second was 193,000 and third was 237,000. And these homes ranged from 3-5 bedrooms and 2.5-3.5 bathrooms. Can not imagine spending what you did! Wow.

Happy one year Homeownership ✨🏡✨

Liked and subscribed, not because I’m nosey, but your videos are funny and helpful! Good luck to you!

well done Monica... and your information is 'real'... yes - study real estate so that you take away the worry of whether the 'professionals' are being 100% honest with you... I like to be a step ahead so I'm studying real estate and construction... best wishes...

Great video Monica, thank you!!!

Even when I'm jealous because I'm behind on something, Im still happy for people who reach milestones.

In my high school civics course, the teacher actually had us write out the entire amortization table for a 30-year loan. In hindsight, it was probably a busywork assignment to keep us quiet. However, it DID show me how front-loaded mortgages are and how much you spend on interest during the first two-thirds of the loan, which was extremely useful to know. As an aside, you should definitely become a real estate agent because it seems like something you are passionate about.

Yesss!! I've been studying for my real estate license since January. Go for it girl!!!

your friends shouldnt be so jealous and unhappy for you. it really sucks when people are like that and we shouldnt have have to make excuses for them. i just bought a place too, and i think it will show your/our friends true character in many ways!! congrats and hope youre doing well!!!!

Love your videos ❤❤❤

Wow you learned a lot!!! This is super helpful

I found that the same thing happened to me when I was 23 last year and bought my house. 1-2 of my friends did not even congratulate me. It was surprising but makes sense now from what you said :/

Ohmygod! I have a townhouse as well and my neighbors hate me too!! And it’s because me and my roommates are young and you’re totally right about judging a book by its cover 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Thank you for sharing such a good information about buying a house!!!

Monica great insight! I purchased my townhome last year too and while I love the area and not having any noisy neighbors, they are things I wish I would've known prior as well.

Such a great video on both sides - the financial and the emotional/expectations side of home buying. With your equity and the increase in value you should look to refinance to eliminate your PMI. I did that a year or so after I bought my place and it saved so much on my monthly payment.

i love the discussion these people are having in the comments

You're so amazing! Very good story teller! I subscribed!

Interesting video Monica! I am starting to think about getting into the real estate business, potentially buying a place to rent out. Maybe in the future you can talk more about renting to your roommates or what your plan is for the Palm Springs house (renting to tenants, airbnb, or whatever your plan may be). I think renting would be a great investment opportunity.

Congratulations! I am always so happy to see young people invest in housing. Definitely put down as much as you can per month to get that interest down as quick as possible. Make the sacrifices early. Also, find other ways to bring in revenue. Local to me, renting driveway space is popular, for instance.

i watched every single ad just because those numbers girl

I learned alot from buying not only house for first time but also it being flip house.

You should purchase or make a Shield of Thorns to display in your home. Epic way to remember a legend.

This was so awesome and so informative! Would love if you could do a step by step for a first time home buyer on exactly what to do on to buy a house. Im sure it varies for everyone but a general description for millennials would be so helpful! And i say yes to u being a real estate agent you would be amazing!!

I had my sold house professionally cleaned for the new owners that were completely ungrateful. I now see not everyone does this. Good to know for the future.

I live in Vancouver, Canada and you’re right... your townhome would cost upwards of 1.5 million here, even more depending on how close to downtown it is. Thanks for being so transparent!

YES BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT

If you’re passionate about becoming a real estate agent, 100% do it!! Even if it doesn’t end up really working out, or you don’t love it, you’ll never regret those life experiences. Plus, you have the added bonus of not needing to quit one job to pursue another. This could give you some great content that I personally would love to watch! 💜

Thank you for your honesty and explaining about your home. :)