We Bought a Home!

We Bought a Home!

Dress || Sandals ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Earrings

As of 9:30 this morning, David and I are officially homeowners! I didn’t want to mention anything before because I’m a touch superstitious. Silly me was just waiting for something to go wrong at the last minute. But now, after signing and initialing a whole stack of papers, we can call this house ours! It’s our perfect little starter home. Now, let’s share of the details…

About the House

Since we were only casually house-hunting, and didn’t have our own realtor, we actually came upon our home by chance! It had already been on the market for a month and was one neighborhood past where we’ve been looking. It’s a nice, pretty laidback area, zoned for good schools, but is also in a flood zone (which is a huge thing to consider). More importantly, it was priced way under our budget! Even though the house is practically turnkey, we have an opportunity to really make it our own. Our first order of business is to paint the outside. You may not recognize it when it’s all done!

The House Design

When I was daydreaming about our future home, I knew I always wanted something cozier. We’ve lived amongst the craftsman bungalows in Old Northeast, but having such a historic home can be a lot of work. Our new home seems like a good compromise. Built in the 1960s, it has that mid-century Florida feel and gives me a lot to work with. The 1200 square feet includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bonus room that David will use as an office. There is an attached garage, but because it’s in our backyard, we plan on finishing it off and turning it into a master suite. Until then, the house is just perfect for two people and our dog.

Our To-Do List

Since we’re not rushing into the move (a perk of not needing to), we’re taking the time to make some of those little updates first. The top picks are what can be done easier in an empty house. After we live there for a spell, more changes can be made as needed to make this space truly ours.

• Paint the exterior walls, shutters, and doors
• Paint the bedrooms and bathroom
• Get rid of the carpet in the two bedrooms
• Move in!
• Personalize the main bathroom
• Create an outdoor living space
• Start landscaping (saving for cooler weather)
• Build a master suite in the garage

Trust the Process

When we moved back to St. Pete from NYC, we just weren’t quite sure how we felt about buying a home. The real estate market in the Sunshine City had exploded. For a time, it seemed like we were being priced out of our top neighborhoods. Then, COVID hit and everything in our budget would be gone in 24 hours… I believe that things happen when they’re supposed to. David and I are both so thankful for our realtor, Judy Horvath. She was a dream to work with and I highly recommend her to anyone in St. Pete. Now, we officially own our little slice of the city.

Now, the fun begins! I can’t wait to show you all of the updates we’ll be making to our #KennedyBungalow. Be sure to follow along as I start this interior design adventure!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.