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We Almost Gave it All Up | An Honest Chat About Quitting Vanlife to Buy a House
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2024
- Hey guys, welcome back to our channel! We've had a lot going on the past few weeks and wanted to fill you in. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions, and although things didn't turn out exactly how we hoped or planned, we wanted to share the experience with you. The process of buying a home was very new to us, and we learned a lot of important lessons along the way.
With the knowledge we gained we hope we can make better decisions for ourselves in future. Until then we're going to enjoy our freedom while continuing to save up for our dream home. See you on the road!
0:00 Intro
3:08 Home Search
6:18 The House
8:59 The Offer
10:17 Red Flags
12:35 On Second Thought
Being debt free is the BEST thing in life. The struggle is real for all of US in debt.
Not knowing something does not make you dumb. Learning is a process and you increased your knowledge.❤
🤯 I have social anxiety stemming from feeling “dumb” or “stupid” from a lack of knowing things or just fearing I won’t know things in social settings. That led to me being agoraphobic and not really leaving my house, except for doc appts, for the past 20yrs!! So when I read your comment…THAT IS A POSSIBLE LIFE CHANGING QUOTE FOR ME!!!! Thank you with all of my heart for your comment❤️❤️❤️ I already feel sooo much better about changing my thought process. About thinking of it in a different way. A better way. I definitely believe I was meant to read your comment this morning!!!🙌😌🥹🥲🥲🥲 I can’t thank you enough!! Have an absolutely amazing day, love!! 🥰🤗
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I wish I had been braver in my 20s. I didn’t make enough money back then, but none of my family was interested in letting me rent a room or basement. Also, rent was getting too high, especially with having a large dog. I bought the most affordable house I could find in a good neighborhood, and it has been almost 9 years of stress. Now that I’m selling that house, I’ve got a plan in place to build out a van to live affordably and eventually live on my dream property. You 2 are really smart to just keep enjoying your current lifestyle and save, save, save.
That sounds pretty brave to me, buying your own house in your 20's. ❤❤
Let me tell you buying a house is the biggest life lesson you could have. I learned so much when I purchased my house 6 years ago! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart & is not the measure of success. It’s a huge financial and emotional commitment. Glad you guys discovered what works for you! ❤
No bullshit well said .. I just bought a van to add to my house stresses lol
Reason no. 453 why you are my favourite van lifers-your integrity. And for keeping your goals in front of you no matter the enticement to buy a house. That sounded like way more expense than return.
PS No need to call it adulting if you don’t want to; good sense and living wisely comes from good self-love-at any age! Xx Mel
Hello I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, love ❤and peace all over the world🌏. I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust so as time goes on it will bring something great for us in the future, hope you don't mind? I'm Engineer Graham Bolt from Nashville Tennessee, where are you from?
I’m glad that you guys knew that you weren’t ready for such a big commitment. When the perfect place comes around and if you’re ready, you’ll know!
At some point vanlife fades… even more of reason to embrace all of it. I’m doing tacomalife in socal as we speak. Was looking to buy a house , was leasing the one I was in for $3200 plus bills for 3 years, had my eyes on a studio in danapoint near the beach so quit my lease. The dana studio needed some updates and so I decided I’d just live out of my truck. I already had my overlanding and solar stuff setup so it was an obvious temp option. Welp. I got comfy. After 3 weeks the studio was ready I was two days away picking up the keys and signing my lease. Told them thanks no thanks. Been cruising socal with my pup doing it simple and easy. Loving it. I wakeup , head to the beach, do my emails, meeting prep ( I consult in construction), head to appnts, dinner and sunsets evvveryday! I see more than I ever would, and I thought I got around a bit more than most before. No regrets. I have my eyes set on a sailboat , which I’ll use as my main residence ofcourse but look to sail and overland travel by end of year. What I get out of this lifestyle is so much more than simple housing life. I’ll have a house but someplace cool like Greece, Tuscany, outskirts of Paris, or microasia. Sort just want to set my life up to different time zones, countries
You two got an amazing partner who stays on the same line for whatever decision the other one made. This is much luckier compared to most ppl who followed society's thoughts but still alone
I relate to this video so much. It really hit home. We JUST pulled an offer on a house for the same reason last week! Inspection came back with SO many little problems that would’ve cost more to fix than the asking price was worth.
Thankfully we haven’t given up hope but it did force us to sit down and realize that wasn’t the area we wanted to be in. It was the third house that didn’t work (for all different reasons). I took that as a sign from God that isn’t the area we are meant to be living in as I was already on the fence and had the same feelings you did after the offer was accepted.
And no- you aren’t the only ones who didn’t know about closing costs… that was all news to me too!
It’s a exhausting process buying a house .. don’t give up tho.
You guys are living your life in such a special way! So many people will never get to have the same experiences. There is so much to be grateful for living your van life ❤❤❤
I love you guys! Thanks so much for your honesty and vulnerability. As a fellow SoCal resident, I really appreciated your shared experience since I know nothing about purchasing a house either.
I was genuinely happy seeing how happy y’all were with the prospects of a new house. But i’m even more excited to see your vision come to life in the near future. 🤗
I am a single woman who bought my house in 2013 for my son & our dog. Interests rates were much lower & the value has almost doubled, BUT there are always expenses…utilities, home insurance, property tax, home repairs. Renovated pretty much my entire house. Spent $4800 to replace my furnace last winter. Have also had to replace my garage door & roof (luckily the roof was covered my insurance). Don’t give up the van life…
Y’all are in an amazing spot in life, living in your van and making good money. Enjoy this time and save up and buy your house in full. If you can do that and not pay interest, it will save SO much money.
Thank you for sharing! I do think a lot of people feel pressured to do things they think they're supposed to do. I love breaking out of these old ways of thinking, and I appreciate you sharing your lives in the van. Here's to disrupting the paradigm!
you guys have amazing taste, that house was beautiful but life will run its course. You'll know when you're ready cause if you move from a van to a house thats a big switch (a lot more cleaning) i could feel myself going to the front of the house expecting a wheel to be there and when i get there i remember its a house now. The path you're on right now is amazing and the food you make is worth stealing. Thanks so much for entertaining all of us and sharing interesting parts of your life!
Thanks for sharing! It's an important lesson, too many people get suckered into the idea of winning the opportunity to buy a house without really thinking through the commitment of it all. Very glad you were able to pull your offer and prevent yourself from feeling in over your head for 25+ years to come. The right house is out there, I would say also there are some amazing places to consider outside of CA if you do ever get sick of van life.
Love this update! Happy to hear you listened to your instincts and kept on the current path that you love so much! I agree with the stupid housing market. I’m in Kansas City and I have worked really hard to get to a place of owing a home, but with post-Covid stuff and the housing prices, it’s just even more out of reach. It’s awful! I’ve been luckily to live in apartments by myself for so long but definitely long for a space to call my own. One day it will come. For now, I live vicariously through your adventures to feel the freedom you share with us! Thank you for sharing this news and for sharing your lives with us! Blessings to you!!
Hello I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, love ❤and peace all over the world🌏. I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust so as time goes on it will bring something great for us in the future, hope you don't mind? I'm Engineer Graham Bolt from Nashville Tennessee, where are you from?
Wow! What a REFRESHING take on owning property. I heavily related to you guys! Thank you so much for your wisdom & willingness to share. We need more of this content. My partner and I have a goal of owning property together one day. I work in the service industry and he does van building. Our big leap as of recent has been planning a move to Colorado from Southern California (initial plan was to rent an apartment in CO) but we don’t want to continue the rat race of being paycheck to paycheck so now we’re in talks of living in the van he’s currently building out to save money (similar to what you guys are doing) in hopes of getting ahead. Having never lived in small quarters I’m nervous but hearing your perspective on living in a van.. the nerves are at ease!
Keep doing what your doing.. amazing that in JUST 2 years you guys are in a completely different place. I hope financially things shift for us soon but until then.. cheers.. thank you for sharing! 🤍
Life is about experiences not about being "house broke". I tell my son if you have an opportunity to save a significant amount of money embrace it and take full advantage of it as once you change your lifestyle the ability to save that amount again is unlikely. So keep saving, keep exploring, keep dreaming, keeping "doing you" and this journey of life will take you down the path that was meant for you!
This. It’s because you probably aren’t sure enough if having a brick & mortar house is your ultimate dream, at least for now. Home is where your heart is & sometimes it doesn’t matter what it made from or how many square meters it is, it’s where you can feel peace… thanks for sharing your story. As an Indonesian who rarely saw a vanlifers here (since land & housing are still pretty within most people’s economic reach, as long as not in big cities) I sometimes wondering if you guys as vanlifers still have desire of owning a house. But now I understand that a peace of mind is the goal :)
You guys are awesome! Thank you for your authenticity! Much love to you & your home base vision. ❤
I like that you didn’t assume that everyone watching would know all the deets about buying houses bc just as you all didn’t know much, I don’t either! And I absolutely feel that things like this & financial literacy should be taught in schools (not just here in FL & even here, it JUST become mandatory w/in the last yr or 2)
Love how honest y’all are
Thank you for sharing this, my husband and I about to move out of our house now and into a van. We have a lot to work through and nothing completely figured out so watching this gave me a lot of hope.
Thank you for sharing your story and your honesty. Happy that you are happy!! 😊
You guys are so smart. You will obviously get wherever you want to go. Love you guys. I live in a condo and I envy you guys living in such a lovely van, even though I'm financially secure in my condo. I really dream about that kind of freedom so that's why I watch these videos hahaha. I have a view of the parking lot.
Thank you for sharing this. I like how honest you guys are. This information is going to help so many people.
So thank you
This video is excellent. I do not normally comment nor subscribe, but as a current student in real estate in Colorado, an aspiring tiny home builder, and a dream to be able to afford to live in Southern California much like you guys, this vid has so many relevant learning tools of education and information for realtors, buyers, real estate students, aspiring sustainable living people, etc. Thank you for sharing your personal journey very much and although you did not purchase now, I know that means you will have something even greater for both of your futures! #manifest
Home buying nor land ownership is common knowledge. Most don’t learn those processes until they’re in the situation. Kudos to you both for following your heart! I know the right house will come back around and the stars will align. Best of luck to you.
You are so smart! A house is a huge burden. The mortgage with interest is just the beginning of all the expenses. Keep saving! Be free!! Good for you!
Oh, I kept thinking noooo, don't do it... it's all wrong! So glad you listened to your gut! You'll find the perfect place later 🌸👌🏼
Love your honesty! Look into tiny houses on wheels! You can get one that’s 200-300 sq feet so maybe it’s just a bit more space then you have now but still financially smart and sustainable, you could still move it if you wanted a new scenery.
I’m a new subscriber, you make so much sense for all of us to learn.
You guys rock it. Time will bring you the perfect place. Extra angels on your path
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The first step is always to find an agent. Don't be afraid. Smart people know they don't know everything and find the people who know what they need to know. You did the right thing all the way down the line.
Love this! Would love a video on how you guys save, invest & compound your money 💰
I’m glad you insisted on an inspection!! Sadly many people for go this or get a parent, a family friend etc. Mold is serious. Better off to get a piece of land. Wait until the interest rates go down
From Canada here , the process of buying a house is conplex and not taught anywhere. You are supposed to trust the bank or brokers oe learn on your own. Should be a class in high school to prepare us early on financially. From this video, the perfect solution for you guys seems to save more while living in the van and then buy a little house like the first one you saw not finished but do it outright. You can live in van as you renovate and keep your freedom without payings someone crazy interest..
Thank you for being so candid. It really helps know everyone has their challenges but perseverance can get you through. And any financial adviser today will tell you that a mortgage these days is financial suicide.
Looking in California was a major issue right now. You both seemed to learn so much. I just started watching you guys.
Idk if it was black mold, but forget it. If its just a little, you can remove it but otherwise never. Enjoy every minute of jusy living. 🤟♥️
I appreciate your honesty so much !
I live in the Southern California Big Bear Mountains. I think you guys should check out the neighboring cities - lots of land, smaller cabin like homes; short drive to beach💙
The house looks beautiful! It reminds me of a nice big cottage in the woods!
Yeah, I feel like there shouldn't be a need to push people into getting a stationary house that they don't want. Theres people who like the Gypsy nomad life style, and some who grew up with it. Its really ridiculous that the houses are very expensive, so expensive to the point I wanna go full time RV, until I can go off grid in a cottage in the woods
just so you know the word you used prior to nomad is a slur historically used to other and discriminate against the Roma people
Thankyiu for explaining these situations yes what an eye opener
Thank you so much for your honesty🙏🏽
I'm totally envious and the way you guys get to live! You're so lucky! I would love to be able to do what you guys are doing. Would 100% rather live like you guys are than have a house!
Decade plus vanlife gang? Let’s goooo. 🎉
I love the transparency. I also love that you stayed true to your hearts and goals. Super inspiring, definitely here rooting for you both❤
I bought my land with owner finance and a lawyer contract. 5 years, paid it off in 3. Well worth it, might want to look at that!❤
Sounds like an excellent exercise thank you sharing this
This is the first video I’ve seen of your channel. I do appreciate the background introduction at the start. Thank you for your openness and your POV when it came to housing. I’ve never considered van life but I’m soo happy you had that when you were laid off! A question: In five years or so would you consider getting a property in another state? Or is California your settling down location? Just curious. And no joke Taxes Are Crazy! I’m in the South and they’ve been going insane. Also glad you have the ability to invest and save as many folks cannot afford to do even that.
Get a little investment piece in Mexico! You guys love Mexico and you could rent it out when traveling in the van. I know the world is scary and risks are anxiety inducing but property is usually a wonderful investment, especially in California. We bought our house in 2020 and it doubled value in 3 years! Insane!! Also interest is ridiculous right now so maybe not the best time to buy but you can always refinance down the road to get that rate lowered. I was loosing my mind when I had the privilege to buy my house but so glad I went through with it. This house may not have been the one (and believe me I know it’s so exciting and terrifying) but your home is out there somewhere waiting for you ❤ for now it’s your cozy van, keep on adventuring! 😊
Thank you for such an honest and inspiring video 💗. I love watching your channel and found this video very insightful and helpful. I had no idea you couldn’t get a conventional loan for land!
Acabei de descobrir o canal de vocês! Adorei a van, a liberdade de ir e vir...parece uma vida muito leve!
yes it does!!!
I get it - save all that money for your retirement- enjoy being debt free that alone is priceless 👍
So glad you didn't veer from your true love of being free!! Times have changed so much that owning a house now means being in deep debt which is not a good thing in the world today. Better to be stealth, ready and able to pick up and move if the need be, you guys have our number; reach out; we would LOVE to hear from ya and come visit!!
Continue to save and purchase the land you saw or other land that allows you to park on it and put something else there later. Just a suggestion.
Could it be possible to just find the place first that you would want to live at for the rest of your lives , then buy land and live on it in your van as you save and start building your own home that really doesn't have to be a huge home that you mentioned earlier in your video about really just wanting a small cozy home with great view ? I have seen a lot of van life couples do this and really do it at their own speed and have a goal/budget of what you feel is better for you guys to afford and maintain ?!! Just a a suggestion!!! 👍👀
As someone who works in this industry, you made the right decision. Dealing with mold opens a whole can of worms.
That first little spot with the views was the one! Try get it! 🙏
Good video, thanks for sharing.
You gotta do you. It’s always hard to balance pushing yourself outside your comfort zone versus taking unnecessary risks. If nothing else, this was a great learning experience! No matter what, I hope it all works out for both of you.
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I am so loving you and your channel ❤️ I'm inspired to do the same thing! I'm 63 a super minimalist and only have family that is in Colorado I live in Florida
I am a brand new subscriber to your channel, I was scrolling through shorts and you guys popped up. After watching a few I am hooked. There is so much work and money that goes in buying a house. Plus real estate taxes which are a joke. If I own the house and land outright, why do I have to pay thousands of dollars twice yearly for it?Especially when you pay taxes when you purchase it. Adulthood stinks! 😂
You should also post more vlogs with ads. I think it will help you financially in the long run. Adding ads revenue will help.
The closing costs got me too! I was able to sell some stocks to cover them, but I always tell potential first time home buyers about them because I feel like no one tells you! Also in CA
Yup. Welcome to adulthood. You learned a lot....
So beautiful that house!
I'm going the other way. Bought my first house in my early 20s and lived the home life. I'll start building my van next week and can't wait to be free of the "American Dream"
What job will you have? :)
Thanks a lot ❤
That house was soo pretty!!!
That house was gorgeous. I can imagine how much the down payment cost😢 Mold on top of it. Live & Let Live❤
Love this very educational vid. Screw it, all your vids. This is the kind of transparency that we ALL need to be discussing. Question for my own learning (and obvi don't answer if it's way too personal)... the taxes thing... did you get slammed with a bill because of A. newish marriage filing, B. multi-state domicile snags, or C. something totally f$cking else? LOL...
Asking because (my partner and I) don't get legally married to avoid the ongoing tax ding that seems to be higher even if filing separately, and the credit linkage (where someone can seize both spouses' stuff if anything happens to one and a medical bill doesn't get paid or something). And we set up a VERY cheap but legal no-tax state domicile for our first couple digital nomad years this year, which eases the $tate burden and provides one address for renters and non-owners-car insurances, and also voting. So would love to know what you did, if possible!
The debtor will always be a slave to the lender. I think you guys made the right decision. Don't get discouraged. 😊
Dave Ramsey
Hi I'm a new viewer n I've been watching Yas videos🩷 I’ve lived for some time in a tiny van 🚐 before so I can kinda relate , never had the adventures ya have , but that’s why I like watching your videos , ya r pretty cool , just wanted to tell You I enjoy watching yas content of Van life and that Jesus Loves You !! God bless ✝️😊🩷
My now husband and I had our offer accepted on a dream home in 2022 and we pulled out for similar red flags. Within the last year we had a major illness that kept us from work, and a job loss that would’ve devastated us financially if we’d bought that house. I have never been more grateful for something not to go our way. And I learned how to listen to and trust my gut when it came to our finances and what we could and couldn’t afford. They will wayyyy over qualify you for loans. It’s predatory.
Great information
Have u guys ever considered just “upsizing” the van? Like say a mobile home type thing? Kinda like a tiny home on wheels??? Also, not that’s it’s my business, but thoughts of kids in the future?
Hey all, if you want to buy a house in this market here are a few tips:
Make offer with seller paying all of your closing costs..
rates suck but should go down in 2-3 years and you can refi to a 15 and drop the rate
Try to buy a property with rental income to offset the hight interest until rates drop
Maybe even start with an fha 2-4 unit property as you csn use rental income to qualify and offset the payment
Properties historically have doubled as well
If I had been them, I would have done 5%-20% down, wrapped in closing costs or asked seller to pay closing costs
Refi in a couple years to a 15 year
Your lender should have explained all closing costs in detail upfront..
Thank you a lot for sharing this story. I can totally relate to the emotional roller coaster when it comes to big commitments.
And also found it super interesting what you said about wanting a small house and property, because it has the essentials of what you value in life, but instead being "forced" to aim for the bigger ones that will put you in so much more liability. I think it reflects really well this notion of being sold a certain "package" idea in life, the big house, the big property, the big car etc... which honestly is not authentic for everyone. (Not to say that those things aren't great and really add comfort to people's life, but just as there are different types of properties and houses, there are different types of characters and needs).
I think you two contributed hugely to society by saying no to this "just" because it didn't feel aligned with your core values. And isn't it beautiful that you discovered that the life you live in your Van right now already has all the qualities you wish for? Amazing. I am taking you as an example, moving into our Van in Portugal with my partner next month 💚
Awesome.
Have you guys considered buying raw land and putting a park model tiny home on it? Usually you can get land for cheap and most tiny home builders offer financing which is not based off your income but just credit. It would be even cheaper if you build it yourself which you probably have the skills to do, the builds I've seen are usually in the 100kish range. I own a home and I will say I was miserable living in the suburbs in a 3/2 home even though it was STUNNING. So maybe a tiny home would be the best of both worlds to have a permanent space with your own land at a much lower price point and easier to achieve as a self-employed person!
Go with your gut! You also would have had to furnish that entire house, pay hydro, water, property taxes, insurance, upkeep, buy yard equipment etc. Just to live in a house!! I would rather have the van life!
Pretty! Congratulations! ❤ is it in Cali?
Your agent and morgate lender should have given you a long list of what you need to pay before starting the buying process so you won't waste money and time.
Josh and I had such a similar experience with this beautiful unfinished cabin we found in northern Washington 🥲 would have been so fun to redo. Thanks for sharing!
Just take it one moment at a time… Enjoy each day that you have traveling in your beautiful van and seeing the most amazing places our country has to offer. You’ll know when the time is right to buy a home and because of this experience, you now know the process. It is a huge commitment but at least for now you did your homework and you know what you have to do. Don’t worry about what other people around you are doing and what they think and pushing you into something that you’re not ready for. Enjoy your van life for now.❤
You're not wrong. I'm in NZ and owning a home isn't what it is cut out to be. But I also have a child and doing for her because she still needs me, is what it is right now. I'm a teacher and have gotten to an age where I'm ready to slow down and begin enjoying my life, but because I own a home on paper, the tiresome responsibility of it can tie you down a lot. There are a lot of things that need to be fixed on my home 😔. I guess though, I am thankful to have one.
Do what you need to for you. It's good that you are not allowing society to dictate what you need to do because they say. The world is so stuck on "keeping up with the Jones", that a lot of people have mountains of debt to be those people. If it works for you, and you're happy, then that's great. Those types of people would be the minority of where the majority would like to be.
Well done to you both. Keep on keeping on for you. If it works and you're happy. Then don't try to fix what isn't broken.
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You guys are your home, not the house or the van 🥺❤️
Your home is actually the three of you. If I had that i’d be so happy.
My dream is finding a piece of land and having space to build on if i choose but have van life on the property in the meantime and still be able to travel and have a spot to come home to whenever ❤ my goal..
just subscribed
I was thinking the same thing, I saw another comment w/ similar idea. great idea
@@gocynthia I just need to make it happen 😁 and thank you
You guys are so cool. Whats his band called? What is kind of music? How do you guys make money while out on the road?
Are y’all good?
You dream of buying a house. I’ll bet most people who follow your channel live in a house and dream of buying a van!
No no you learn from life and desire. See what you learned. 😊 the small house dyi - with acreage so much better. Well.. That is a huge house way too much. Just me. Totally get the buyers remorse.
I don't think you guys are big house people. I think you were on point to stay with your original goal of getting land and a small house or a tiny house. Bigger and shiny is not always the best. And I say this as a person who lives in a 2400 sq ft house! Good luck!
I totally agree, it's more to clean and more clutter at least the house I live in of 2400 sq ft unless one has time or money for a cleaner. I think 1500-2000sq is good for 2 ppl unless one has guests/family over a lot or wants space for a hobby room/garage.
What about a yurt?!
this might be a silly question, but does converting your van into a home like you've done effect the insurance at all?