Home Sweet Home

A notary public just left. My wife and I refinanced our home and the title company was nice enough to send the paperwork here. We signed and initialed and the whole process took less than thirty minutes. We had a thirty-year fixed mortgage before but now our interest rate is two full percentage points lower. Having a house is a great responsibility yet I would not trade it for anything. There is much debate over whether one should rent an apartment or get in debt and buy a house. Not all reasons for buying a home can be quantified.

Christine and I have lived in our home for over three years and plan on staying for many more. The apartment we shared for many years was more than adequate but there is no comparison to our current living situation. Every part of this dwelling is ours. When we walk into our backyard we are the masters of all we survey. Along with ownership is the option to change anything we like. There are costs involved naturally but having our home look and feel however we desire is priceless. The more we change the more connected we feel.

It is so quiet! Rarely is traffic an issue even with a corner lot. The only noises are ones that we expect to hear. The floor creaks and the washer is far from silent but these are the only sounds we deal with. There is no door loudly opening and closing, at all hours of the day and night, by people entering a common area. Weird smells are kept to a minimum. The only threat in the kitchen is from my cooking. Apartment dwellers often complain about loud televisions or stereos. Rude people do not come though my door. I can enjoy my music or workbench with nary a complaint.

These are some of the things that get forgotten when people formulate the equation of home buying versus renting. There are numerous intangible factors which a dollar amount cannot be assigned. Having friends over when you like, more space to live and entertain and enjoying a more peaceful and sedate existence are just a few of the benefits of being the king of your castle. There are still some examples of the tastes of the previous owner but what is not broken gets to stay. Plenty of items were changed or replaced the first few years we occupied this house. What is important is that one feels secure in one's environment.

I wrote this post not just because I am happy about saving big bucks through refinancing. It is also that I believe most people take what they have for granted. After almost four years I still get excited when I think of the largest purchase of my life. I will be in debt for many years to come but I will also own something valuable for even longer. The inherent worth of this property is measured in dollars. The other benefits cannot be labeled with a price tag and are too numerous to mention. Our dream finally came true and I am thankful each and every day for what we share together.