How old were you when you bought your first home?

[disykat]

I got married at 29, before that I didn't even consider buying. Too busy paying off college, taking even more classes, and traveling! When dh and I got married we were debt free so with two incomes it only took us 6 months to save for our first house - an older home that needed some fixing up. We made some money on it and moved up to the house we live in now in our early - mid 30's. We didn't consider buying immediately because we used the time we were engaged to pay for the wedding and honeymoon.

Most of my friends have been between 28 and 35 when they bought their first home unless they had parental help. We actually beat that average since dh was only 25. With today's interest rates I'm sure people are buying earlier in areas where prices are affordable.

 

[binny]

I'm 31 and dh is 32. We just bought our first house, I dont suppose there are any repossessed houses near you? Thats how many people do it here.

I dont think I would leave Hawaii for Vegas lol.

 

[perdidobay]

DH and I bought our first house at the ages of 19 (me) and 20 (DH). It was a 800 sq ft 50 year old home with no central heat or air. one TINY bath and two bedrooms. We paid 15K for it (26 years ago).... our payments were $150 PITI!

 

[Kallison]

We were 24 and 25. We've moved once since then and love the house we've been in for 11 years now.

 

[Goofyposter]

23

 

[coqui]

House has been ours for over a year.

I was 23 when we bought it.

 

[LuvTigger]

WOW, you guys are great...most of you have been able to purchase homes at relatively young ages!

And Binny, funny you should mention repos. A house just a little ways down the street from where I'm living (w/ BF's mom) was in foreclosure (the owners owed MAJOR back-taxes). But the way foreclosures work here, you need to have 10% cash on hand (I'm guessing this house is worth at LEAST $350,000 but probably closer to $400,000 these days), and then be ready to pay the rest when the sale is finalized. We don't have that kind of cash right now.

We were considering moving to Vegas anyway, not just because of the home prices, but everytime we go to Vegas (just got back a few days ago), we start dreaming of what we could have! Not only in terms of a home, but being able to drive anywhere for a getaway, lower cost of living, etc.

Thank you all for your input! Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to afford a home in Hawaii, but maybe I'll at least be able to afford a home somewhere!

 

[snowwhitemom]

I was 19 and it was so small a bungalow (sp). Didn't keep it long either.

 

[disykat]

LuvTigger, I just have to comment that my brother who lives in Hawaii (also near Kailua-Kona) leaves for a Vegas trip in a couple of days. However great Hawaii is, is does start to feel confining if you haven't been off the island for a while!

 

[helenabear]

Wow, coqui didn't post for me... he was 23 & I was 24 when we bought our house.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I was 20.

 

[Nancy]

26. We bought a double, sold it 2 years later for a good profit and bought the house we are now living in. We are very lucky here...housing is pretty resonable compared to other areas.

 

[shep]

25 for me
21 for dw...

 

[KozmicLee]

I was 22 when I bought my house. I got a great interest rate from the government as a first time homebuyer. It's tiny but it has a really nice backyard.