14 West Hawaii Real Estate | August 17, 2018
Commentary: Is hard work enough to buy you a house?
In 1988, my parents bought a
the house Wesson after clean-of Los Angeles work, I stepped But they never took While friends second homes digs that stayed ended up Their says that today, they But they’re they can’t the market Now my parents And I’m abode —that I do it? I but Mortgage Broker/Owner
house in Anaheim for $140,000.
It’s in one of those post-World
War II tracts where all the
houses have three bedrooms, two
baths and one garage — everything
two Mexican immigrants could ever
want for their American Dream.
My father liked to hold pool parties
for our extended family and serve everyone
his famous carnitas; my mom
was never happier than tending to her
garden of chile plants, citrus trees and
a massive bougainvillea. I go over at
least twice a week to watch classic
Mexican movies with them, or help
cut the grass in the front lawn.
And every time I go, I take a moment
to just stand back and marvel.
Two mexicanos were able to buy
a house in Southern California. When
they were 37 years old. In a not-bad
neighborhood. And have four children.
Without ever renting a room to
anyone to help out with the mortgage.
This month, the house is all theirs
after 30 years of payments.
How the hell did they do it?
“Work hard,” Dad said.
“Save everything you can,” Mom
added.
With cliches like that, maybe
they’re not ready for prime time. But
my parents offer a great example of
how dramatically Southern California’s
housing market has changed
over the last 30 years.
Mami and Papi bought their home
in an Orange County that no
longer exists. My mom made
a living wage as a Teamstersrepresented
canner for the
old Hunt-Wesson tomato
factory in Fullerton. My dad
was just beginning his career as a
short-haul truck driver, after a decade
working for the old Royalty Carpet
Mills in Irvine.
All that hard work and saving
meant they were able to put $40,000
down and, during four straight years
in the 1990s, throw in an additional
$10,000 toward the principal.
Their last mortgage payment will
be an absurd $300.
It wasn’t easy. My parents never
went on vacations — trips to Mexico
don’t count as vacation for Mexicans
— and they never bought anything
fancier than a top-level Stetson for my
dad or silk shawls for my mom. My
dad took over full responsibility for
Jen McGeehan joins Clark Realty Corporation Waimea
Gary Davis, Broker
In Charge at Clark
Realty Corporation,
is pleased
to announce the addition
of Jen McGeehan to their
team of sales associates in
the Waimea/Kamuela Office
located in the Parker Square
Shopping Center.
Jen has successfully merged over
46 years of varied and life experience
into a real estate career that focuses
on the goals and dreams of her clients.
Her expertise in the areas of networking,
In 2011, Jen and her husband, Pat, moved to Hawaii from the pristine resort
community of Big Bear, California. Their unique experience of living in a 450
not-so-square-foot vintage yurt, on the Hamakua Coast, led her to write My Year
In A Yurt, a unique faith-based book on off-grid, tiny house living.
negotiating, marketing, decorating,
staging and relocation are vital
tools that help her assist her clients
in streamlining their process, whether
purchasing or selling property.
In 2011, Jen and her husband, Pat,
moved to Hawaii from the pristine resort
community of Big Bear, California.
Their unique experience of living in a
450 not-so-square-foot vintage yurt, on
the Hamakua Coast, led her to write
My Year In A Yurt, a unique faithbased
book on off-grid, tiny house
living. They later purchased a one-ofa
kind, off-grid home a quarter mile—
as the wild turkey flies—from the yurt,
and continue to enjoy life in the Ohia
forest, complete with ocean view!
Jen actively assists her clients
in selling or finding the home or
land of their dreams utilizing the
entire Clark Realty Corporation,
along with their partnership with
the Leading Real Estate Companies
of the World® network. To reach
Jen, please call 808.747.2365 (cell),
808.887.0887 (office) or jmcgeehan@
clarkhawaii.com.
Purchase, Refi nance, and
Reverse Mortgage Loan Options
Hi - 224003
76-6225 Kuakini Hwy. C-106
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
PHONE: (808) 327-0404
Cell: (808) 960-3457
barbara@apexmortgagehawaii.com
apexmortgagehawaii.com
BARBARA A. WELSH
Hi - 217406
Kona Real Estate Management
Property management
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home check services.
A small but professional
father-daughter run
company that are both
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treat your property
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808-329-3121
www.konahomesandrentals.com
Joseph A. Garcia
BIC
Christina Sotelo
BA
Thinking of Vacation Renting?
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link
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