When I bought my first home, I would love to tell you it was because I had taken a hard look at the market, researched interest rates, calculated investment projections, and got in at precisely the right time when all the property ownership stars had aligned. The truth, however, is much more simple: I wanted a dog.
I am the gal who would smile longingly at all the dogs who got walks through my neighborhood. I would offer water to dogs hitched outside the coffee shop. I would talk ridiculously to animals throughout the city, but I never lived anywhere that would allow me to have one of my own. Where was this magical housing that allowed dogs, and why had I never discovered it?
I grew up with dogs. My father was a stray dog magnet. If the stray did not find my father on its own, other people would bring strays they found to him. Dogs were just part of my every day life. So you can imagine that after seven years of dog-free living, I was going a little stir crazy.
Finally my husband and I decided that we needed to buy a home of our own if we ever wanted a pet. I do not believe the ink had quite dried yet on our loan papers when we visited our first dog adoption event. We brought home “Angel,” a five-year old boxer mutt, and we knew then that our decision to become a first time home buyer was serving its ultimate purpose. Sure there are mortgage interest deductions and pride of ownership and freedom to paint walls, all sorts of responsible, adult-like things that go into buying a home. But watching your dog tear around the securely fenced back yard, kicking up freshly-laid sod, and calling you out for a game of fetch is exactly why I decided to dive into the real estate market the first time around. Today, between our own dogs and the rotating cast of characters that we foster for Multnomah County Animal Services, we continue to view home ownership as something we do “for the dogs.”
Additional Resources:
Check out my ultimate Dog Resources list. It includes shelters, vets, parks, grooming, and other things dog owners should know in the Portland metro area.
If you are a first time home buyer, or are seeking a trusted REALTOR® outside of the state of Oregon, feel free to contact me. I am happy to provide you with my most trusted referrals throughout the U.S.