Witness proof that you can still buy a house and smile when it’s all over.

This is Angie & James. They are newly married, and decided they wanted to think about buying their own home. They’d both had enough of renting.

But who can buy a house these day? After all, the news is all about how there’s a credit crunch, the sub prime lenders and borrowers have jacked it up for all the rest. The real estate bubble has burst. Right?

Well, look at these two. They don’t have any special secrets, didn’t listen to late night infomercial tricks about getting rich in real estate. They just did things the way that have always worked. That is, they talked with a good lender, looked at all the homes that were within their price range, had some good guidance (excuse me while I blush) and ended up with a great home.

So, if you’re in the market for a home - especially in or around Greensboro, NC, take heart. Interest rates are STILL in the low 6% range and if you have a job, a decent credit history and feel like you’d rather pay your own mortgage rather than someone else’s (and don’t fool yourself, if you’re renting, you are paying a mortgage…It’s just someone else’s and they’re getting the benefit) then contact me. Or contact another Realtor. Buying your own home continues to have the same intrinsic value it always has and it’s well worth the effort.

Look at these two. They’re thrilled.

They honored me by inviting me and my husband to their house warming party. James had already built a 400 sq. ft. deck, a privacy fence and painted a very pink bedroom to a more James-friendly hue. Angie had made every room her own with just the right touches. And she said to me the best thing she could. She said she never wants to leave that house.

Now, I’m sure they will both want to move one day. And I hope they call me when they do. But the whole point of buying your own home is that you’re happy to go there at the end of the day. Your job may irritate you. Your boss may treat you like a moron. Traffic might make you scream. But if you feel better being at home than anywhere else, it’s all good. It’s what “home” is all about.

Always has been.