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Today, a married couple in their early 30s shares how they bought the smallest house they could find in Orlando, Florida, enabling them to save more—and travel.
What was your home experience when you were growing up?
Everyone in my family owns. They’re a lot of teachers and government employees who worked their way up. I did not come from insane wealth but learned from parents who preached the value of home ownership. My parents have owned a few homes over the years, and I witnessed how real estate works and how it can work for you.
Tell us about the first home you bought.
I was 22 when I had my first “big-girl” job and purchased a one-bedroom condo. My mom sat me down and said, “Let’s run these numbers.” She thought I might be better off buying than renting. It was 2017 and it turned out she was right. When I had to move for work, I kept the condo as a rental.
When did you start thinking about buying again?
When my husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to Orlando, Florida, we rented for a year, but I really wanted to buy. We were frustrated with noisy neighbors and landlord rules.
Did you have any non-negotiables?
It was important to us to be in an area of Orlando that was happening. We wanted to be in an established neighborhood that held its value. I really like old homes and old neighborhoods, so that played a role.
How did you choose Orlando, Florida?
My husband had worked here for a magazine and made a lot of friends during that time. My parents also have a house in Mt. Dora, which is 40 minutes away. Together, we had a lot of ties to the area. Plus, Florida’s lack of state income tax was a huge draw.
How long did you look before finding your home?
I spent about a year learning the neighborhoods and what to expect pricewise for each area. We looked intentionally for three months.
How many homes did you see in person?
In person, we saw 10 homes spread out over those three months. Then, we took one last weekend and saw the homes we were really interested in.
How did you know this was the one?
The neighborhood and the home were both what we were looking for. The house’s layout is so good. The kitchen and dining room are one space and the living room is its own space. Having separate rooms blocks noise and gives you extra nooks and usable spaces. We also love that the backyard is huge and that it had a detached garage that could be made into anything. Best of all, at this price, we could pay off our mortgage quickly.
What offer did you make?
We offered the asking price which was $369,900. The house had termite damage and needed a new roof, so we also asked for a $10K concession. The deal fell through because the sellers wouldn’t agree to our terms. It broke our hearts, but we had to walk away.
What happened next?
Our Realtor reached back out and told us the sellers had pulled the house off the market, then put it back on with a new price that was about $6K higher.
What was the second offer you made?
We offered $375,000 and, again, asked for a $10K concession for the termite damage and new roof. By this time, a month had passed and the sellers were flexible.
Where did the down payment come from?
My husband and I pooled our savings—including about $20,000 from the sale of that first condo I had purchased—and we also saved during that year we were renting.
Why did you decide to buy less house than you could afford?
My husband and I have aggressive savings goals. We also have big travel goals. We wanted to buy a house we could afford with just one of our incomes. That way, if either of us loses a job or wants to stay home with the kids, we can and it’s not a stretch. That led us to find the humblest, smallest house in the neighborhood we liked the most.
What did your friends and family think about your decision?
People were very concerned about the size of this house. They kept saying, “What if you want kids? Or to have a party?” People don’t understand how much you can do with a house this size. We’ve had 60 people over for a holiday party.
Do you feel confident with your decision?
We know it’s a privilege to be able to make this kind of decision and it’s been a really good one for us. Everything with a smaller house is cheaper. When something goes wrong, we pay less. Even our heating and AC bills are cheaper because the house is smaller.
Did you and your husband have the same financial values when you met?
A lot of our financial habits aligned, but we definitely went through a hard period of arguing to get clear on our financial goals. We both have similar values about living well below our means. We’re both very averse to debt and we care about so many other things other than our house, so our house can’t be everything.
How much do you travel?
We’re able to do four weekend trips a year, and we travel internationally several times a year. If we had purchased more house, we wouldn’t be able to do all these things.
Do you think buying is always a good idea?
Owning has always been a priority for me, but I don’t think ownership is for everybody—especially if the numbers show it’s better to rent.
How can someone make a smaller house work?
You have to bring imagination. There are so many ways you can live in a space or repurpose a room. We made a reading nook in our dining room, for example. And we invested $20K in our garage to turn it into my office, and also a home gym and laundry room.
What’s your favorite thing about the house?
The yard. I spend a lot of time gardening, and it’s very peaceful. I like the appeal, too, of a small house. I grew up with a basement where we just kept accumulating stuff that we didn’t use. This home doesn’t have a basement or the extra space to do that. It reminds us that we want to experience things rather than just consume.
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