What’s The Tea with 4D? 🍵

Hello Tea Timers! What’s new with you? What’s new with me, you ask? I realized recently that I have been failing to share a huge new thing in my world and the world of my family and I thought it was time to remedy that.

My husband Dave and I did a thing. After years of talking about buying a chunk of land, we finally found one and made it happen at the end of last summer. And it is truly a beauty. It is about an hour from home and at the top of a mountain with a view. Honestly, aside from being right next to the water (it’s about 17 minutes down the hill to the put in), it checked many of our boxes.

The plan has always been that Dave (with my construction ignorant but deeply committed assistance) would build our own little cabin. Dave has had a dream to design and build a little off grid cabin in the woods for a long, long time. And being a lover of nature and all things outside, I was absolutely on board with this dream.

It seemed like this property was meant to be when we found it. Plenty of usable acreage, tucked away from neighbors and plenty of buildable looking space. We made an offer and got through the process pretty seamlessly. (We had an amazing agent ;-)) And once we closed, it was off to the races!

Since we closed, we have had a septic system installed and signed off on by Central District Health, had the road graded and excavation done on the property to prep our build site, worked with a draftsman to develop the plans to be approval ready by the County, got our plans submitted and approved, built a shed, got our septic pipe installed and trenches dug for our foundation, and just started measuring out the space so we can start on our foundation in earnest this week. PHEW!

This is the beginning of a very long road ahead but one that will be filled with learning, challenges, triumphs and ultimately, a sweet little cabin on a beautiful mountain to spend time at and to improve upon as the years go by.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tale and if folks are curious, I intend to share more along the way. If you are personally thinking about venturing into something like this, I would love to share what we have learned so far and hear more about your dream. Life is a wonderful adventure and dreams can come true, friends!

Thinking about your next steps in real estate? Let’s meet for coffee or tea to discuss your plans—my treat! 🧡

Whether you’re buying, selling, or just exploring possibilities, I’m here to offer clear guidance and help you feel confident moving forward.

Use the button below to pick a date and time that works for you. Once booked, I’ll reach out directly to confirm the details, and we’ll go from there.

Now is the time to focus on your real estate plans and turn them into reality. Let’s make it happen together! 🏘️

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and watching its value grow over time. And that equity? It’s something that could help change your child’s life.

Since affordability is still a challenge, a lot of first-time buyers are struggling to buy a home in today’s market. Even if they have a stable job and a solid plan, buying can still feel out of reach. But that’s where your equity could make all the difference.

To give you an idea, the average homeowner with a mortgage has $311,000 worth of equity, according to Cotality (formerly CoreLogic). That’s significant. And some parents are using a portion of their equity to help their children become homeowners, too.

According to Bank of America, 49% of buyers between 18 and 26 got money from their parents to use toward their down payment (see chart below): 

Even though the data doesn’t specify how many parents used their equity, the wealth they’ve built through homeownership may have helped make it possible – especially given how much equity the average homeowner has today.

While what’s right for each person’s specific situation will vary on a case-by-case basis, that’s a powerful legacy to pass on. It helps those younger people buy a home, build equity of their own, and begin the next chapter of their life with a little less financial stress and a lot more stability. And for those parents? It’s a way to turn what they've built into something deeply meaningful.

This isn’t just about money. For many homeowners, it’s about being the reason their child gets to say, “we got the house.” And giving them the kind of head start they might’ve only dreamed of at their age. And here’s the part that really sticks. Compare the Market says: 

Bottom Line

Your equity could be the thing that makes homeownership possible for your children when they might not be able to do it on their own. So, here’s the question.

If helping your kids buy a home was more feasible than you thought, would you want to explore that option?

If you want to learn more or find out the best way to make it happen, talk to your lender and a financial advisor you trust.