What It Really Took: Two stories of buying a home in Los Angeles…well before the average age of 40+

Feb 26
4 min read

We’ve been having a lot of conversations about what it actually takes to buy a home right now. The trade-offs, long timelines, and decisions that often do not look glamorous at the time.

In California, the average first time home buyer is over 40 years old. That statistic surprises people, but when you look at pricing, interest rates, and the general cost of living here, it begins to make sense. Buying takes time.

As we prepare for our upcoming Buyer Seminar, two of our recent buyers have been on our minds. Their stories are different in many ways, but what stands out most isn’t how they bought, it’s that they did so well before the average age, and the dedication they held over many years to make it possible.

Alice & Sam

Time: 10+ years

Alice and Sam met when they were around eighteen, long before either of them had steady careers or savings to speak of. It was in those early years that they decided that owning a home would be part of their life…eventually.

Neither grew up around homeownership, but it was something they decided they wanted for themselves, and they were dedicated to making it happen. For a long stretch, they lived on one salary – Sam postponed going to college and worked while Alice finished school first. Once they both found jobs after school, their lifestyle didn’t expand. Every promotion, bonus, and tax return went into their savings, instead of inflating their cost of living. They maxed out their 401Ks, learned how to budget carefully, and became comfortable with delayed gratification. These small, disciplined actions over time are what built their financial foundation.

When COVID happened, their spending naturally slowed while their savings accelerated, and historically low interest rates gave them an opening. However, the competitive and expensive Los Angeles market was still a reality and their initial goal of buying in Santa Monica, near family, was not going to be in their budget. That was when they realized that if they were going to make this happen in this moment of low rates, they would have to readjust their expectations and start looking further east.

They eventually found their home in Montebello. The mortgage was higher than their rent, and that adjustment was tricky. However, because they had spent years building the muscle of budgeting, they were well prepared. Now, they are able to travel, make one extra principal payment a year, and are improving their home slowly, bringing their “long-game” mindset into this new chapter. And perhaps most meaningfully, they became the first in their families to own, expanding what feels possible for everyone around them.

Cara & Greg

Time: 5 years

Cara and Greg’s path looked a little different, but the long-view approach to homeownership was similar.

They both had the goal of buying a home when they were in college. After graduation, they found jobs and set a goal to save between $1,000–$2,000 a month. That was made possible by renting from family at below-market rates and watching the market closely for years.

When rates were incredibly low during COVID, they wanted to take advantage of the timing but didn’t yet have enough saved. By the time they were financially ready, rates had climbed into the high sixes. It would have been easy to interpret that as a missed window. Instead, they reassessed.

They originally hoped to buy near Greg’s family on the Westside, but as they looked at the numbers with more clarity, it became clear that moving east, closer to Cara’s family, would allow them to buy without putting themselves in a precarious position. They decided on Alhambra and ultimately purchased at the top of their budget for a home they knew could grow with them.

To help close the gap, they borrowed from their 401Ks and we helped them negotiate credits from the sellers. They are taking advantage of the mortgage interest deduction, which is helping them pay that loan back, even with the interest factored in.

One of the things they shared with us was how much working with professionals helped steady the process. Not because it removed the hard parts, but because it made the trade-offs visible. Buying further east wasn’t what they initially envisioned, but understanding their options clearly allowed them to choose it rather than feel pushed into it.

They have no regrets. Owning gives them flexibility they didn’t have before, including the potential to leverage equity down the road to open their own business. We’re looking forward to seeing that unfold.

The Thread Between Them

What strikes us most about both of these stories isn’t the interest rates or the down payment strategy or even the neighborhoods they chose. It’s that buying required a long horizon.

It required:

Living on a budget with their greater goal in mind
Letting go of certain versions of a plan (i.e., compromises)
Being honest about what they could and couldn’t do all at once

It’s also worth saying: these are not the only ways to buy.

For some people, the strategy is aggressive saving.
For others, it’s family support.
For others, it’s creative financing or using retirement funds strategically.

And for many, it begins with building relationships – with a lender, with a real estate advisor, with professionals who can help you see your full financial picture clearly and making adjustments along the way.

Buying isn’t a cookie cutter experience. It’s deeply personal and shaped by your upbringing, your community, your appetite for sacrifice, and the resources available to you. Having people in your corner who understand your specific situation can make all the difference.

Start Planning For Your Goals At Our Buyer Seminar

We don’t host our Buyer Seminar because everyone in the room is ready to buy next month. We host it because information changes how you see what’s possible.

Some people will walk away realizing they’re closer than they thought. Others may realize they need a longer runway or more defined goals. Many will discover loan structures, savings strategies, or professional guidance they didn’t know existed.

Buying a home rarely unfolds the way you initially imagine it will, but if owning is a goal, understanding your options is the first meaningful step. If that conversation feels relevant to you, the seminar on Saturday is one you can’t miss.

RSVP Here