Disabled and buying in a seller’s market
2021- The year it was all supposed to get better. Yet COVID still rages on, and the influx of remote workers from California and New York relocating to the southern states have created an interesting paradox in the real estate market for places like Orlando, where I call home. In the very same area where thousands are currently facing eviction, due to their finances being impacted by the pandemic, homes are selling for well over asking price often in less than 24 hours.
Last year, I wrote about the challenges of finding an accessible home to rent. While it wasn't easy, searching for one to buy in the current real estate climate makes last year's rental search look like child's play. We're lucky enough to have a great friend as a realtor who is understanding of all of our needs and wants. No stairs, no sunken rooms, a walk-in master shower, and enough space for us to both work from home. We are also hoping to find a home with a pool, something I never expected to be a deal-breaker until we spent the better part of a year stuck at home while I recovered from amputation and the world got sick. Our rental home's backyard and pool became a source of therapy, exercise, meditation, and everything in between. We cozied up by the fire pit in the winter and swam in the summer. Suddenly, we understood why everyone decided Florida was the place to be in times like these.
So once or twice a week, we get to go see a house and have to decide almost immediately if it's right for us. For someone like me who likes to think, think again, and then think some more about why something is or isn't right for me this is pretty terrifying. Will the floor be too slippery for me when I need to hop around with my leg off? Can I easily get in and out of the shower on my own? What kind of vibe does this house have? I have to feel a sense of peace and positivity when I walk in or it's a no for me. If you've ever spent months stuck on the couch or in your bed, you know exactly what I mean. The energy of a home can be contagious.
It has certainly been stressful, but it's also been fun dreaming up the way I would design a space and make it my own without the limitations of a rental agreement and the ability to knock down walls and paint cabinets to my heart's content. Did you know that certain changes made to a home can be written off at the end of the year if they are due to a disability? I learned this recently and it could be a game-changer. It's incredibly important to find all of the resources available to you as not only a first-time homeowner but a person living with a disability. Your home should be your safe space in a world that isn't always "accessible".
If you too are a buyer in this wild west seller's market, godspeed, and don't forget to include a thoughtful letter with your offer to pull at the seller's heartstrings.
