Mikayla and Stanley Barnes got married in September 2014 and lived in her parents’ in-law suite until they bought a home in July 2015. They didn’t receive a contract on two homes and, working with Stephanie Williams with Desired Properties Realty, they decided to write a letter to the owners of the third home, explaining who they were and why they wanted to buy. The note worked.
Mikayla, 27, administrator for a real estate company, talked about the three-bedroom home that she and Stanley, 26, manager of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Canton, bought in Dallas.
Q: What’s something you did when you started your search?
A: We created a spreadsheet to see where our money was going and figure out how much home we could afford.
Q: What were your priorities?
A: We wanted four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a garage, a basement, a backyard and a fence. However, we knew the market is hot and that there aren't as many properties as buyers. The most important aspect was having a backyard for our dogs Demi and Sophie so they would have space to run around.
Q: How did you find this home?
A: On the first house we found, we didn't listen to Stephanie's advice about offering above the listing price and putting down earnest money. The seller dragged us along for a week before deciding to go with another buyer. We had already become attached and were crushed. It took us time to find another house because we compared everything to that home. A second house was listed $20,000 more than what it was worth, and our offer wasn't even close. We got serious on the third house by offering more than the listing price and putting down solid earnest money. We wrote a letter saying how excited we were to have our first Thanksgiving there and added our wedding photo at the bottom. That put us at the top.
Q: How was the offer and closing process?
A: I work nearby and walked to the attorney's office during my lunch break. It wasn't as long as we expected, but it was a ton of paperwork. I had to go back to work, but Stanley went over immediately.
Q: What do you love about the home?
A: The fenced-in yard. I go outside with my dogs and let them run around. We also really like the quiet neighborhood with families. You never realize how cute it is to see kids outside playing until you're home and they're riding around on bicycles.
Q: What’s a tip for first-time buyers?
A: Know your budget. It helps to narrow your search and stay on task.
At a Glance
Mikayla and Stanley Barnes’ home, built in 2008, has three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and 1,660 square feet. Homes in the Springfield neighborhood in Dallas range from the mid $100,000s to mid-$200,000s.
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