T
hinking about buying a home, but unsure how to afford it? Meet an education consultant in Columbus, Ohio, who shares her journey to homeownership and creating a unique "compound" with friends and family.

    At 54, she's divorced and had to sell her previous home. After a month of searching, she found the perfect neighborhood where her best friend and cousin already lived. She took a bold step by writing a letter to the owners of the house next door, expressing her interest in buying it.

    The owners were impressed with her sincerity and sold the house to her at a price that fit her budget. The real estate agent even offered to reduce her commission, making the deal work. With a 20% down payment from the sale of her previous home, she secured a conventional loan.

    Today, she lives in a "compound" with her cousin, best friend, and sister, who owns the fourth house in the square. They've created a harmonious living arrangement by respecting each other's boundaries and having open conversations when needed.

    The benefits of this setup are numerous – constant community, shared meals, and help during emergencies. Her advice to friends looking to replicate this idea is to be creative and consider alternative options like buying a larger house or land to build tiny homes.

    Her story showcases that with determination and a little creativity, homeownership can become a reality, even in unexpected ways.