It's more than a house, it's a home.

A house comes with a hefty price tag. But the joy that goes with it is priceless.

We bought our house in only a matter of three weeks. Maybe our real estate agent was good or just broke at that time. She got us literally everything. She got us a mortgage, appraisal, closing company, and everything in between. Next thing I knew we were signing papers at closing day. It was quick.

I must give applause to the real estate agent – she worked it out because she was determined to sell us the house. From her own words, selling low-cost houses is her bread and butter. The other reason is, she was also the real estate agent of the seller. She took advantage of our being first-time home buyers. Being inexperienced, we just said yes to the whole process, not really asking the right questions.

In the end, we got ourselves a house in a not-so-perfect condition with plenty of repair work. The former owners did not clean and the house smelled of animals. We had to clean and sanitize before we moved in. We steam-cleaned the carpet, vacuumed, and washed the tile floors. I wiped all the cupboards with highly-concentrated bleach. We also changed the kitchen sink and the toilet.

It is a lot of work and up until today we are still working on the house. We already changed the blinds, the lights, and the bathroom counter. Thankfully, my other half is so handy, he can fix everything. That’s less the trouble of finding and paying a handyman.

Anyway, the worst part of it all is the big change in our household budget. Suddenly, we have a substantial mortgage to pay and every expense should be adjusted accordingly.

Quietly, I was suffering from buyer’s remorse. I didn’t think about it until one day when I realized that I am now living in my very own house. Yes, my own house with a public record bearing my name. It was so overwhelming in the first seven months that I did not even celebrate the fact that I am a homeowner. Suddenly, I was thankful.

This house is our blood, sweat, and tears. It is a fruit of our labor (and good credit). Unlike the past years, we are not looking anymore to rent or to buy because we already have a place. Of course we may sell and move someday but for now, this is our home. We can enjoy it for as long as we want. We can do everything in it because we own it. There are no more landlords to think of; no leases to expire. Isn’t it wonderful?

I’m not sulking anymore. Definitely, there are still more to fix and to replace and the list can be endless. But for the moment, I can live with them. I am just happy to be a homeowner.