P
icture a photo by Mariaelena Caputi. The headline may sound clickbait, but it’s true: you don’t always need a large bank balance to buy a house. I’m no math wizard; jargon feels ancient. Instead, I rely on instinct and personal connections.

    My first Cincinnati purchase was in Northside. I learned the owner wanted to sell before moving. The pad was outdated, but the area’s desirability kept the price above my modest five‑figure budget. The auditor’s site showed my offer was just above the owner’s purchase price, giving him a small profit. My local presence and promise to buy “as‑is” sealed the deal. I financed it with credit‑card cash advances.

    I met a woman retiring to France who wanted to sell her four‑plex. We bonded over French culture, and I negotiated a $10,000 discount by offering cash I didn’t yet have. I admitted this before signing, and she sold to me on a land contract.

    I turned to Spring Grove Village. I rescued a long‑listed fixer‑upper. A neighboring owner, worried about her tenant, agreed to sell if I promised to renew the lease without rent hikes on a cash basis. The house cost $18,000; I borrowed the funds from a friend.

    Now approaching retirement, I aim to honor the trust and discounts I received. I sold two properties to a tenant and a handyman. Both are first‑time buyers. I could have fetched higher prices, but gut feeling guided my choices.