Real Estate Rookie: Introduction

This week we’re starting a brand new series hosted by my all-time favorite person, my wife Kristen! Join her as she chronicles our real estate life from the perspective of someone who is NOT a real estate expert. Whether it be questions from my work as an agent or musing from our own hunt for an investment property, I’m hoping you can learn alongside her as we figure out this next adventure together.

Hi there! Mrs. Real Estate RPh here. I’d like to say that I am the brains behind this operation, but that’s not the truth at all. In fact, I actually panicked inside when my husband Nate told me he wanted to get his real estate license. Now, for those of you who don’t know me, I am more of a rule follower. So when my residency-trained pharmacist husband told me he wanted to pursue real estate instead of the “natural” choice of pharmacotherapy board certification, you other type-A pharmacists can probably empathize with my initial feelings. What was his interest in paying more money for education in a non-pharmacy (non-healthcare even) related field? With 6 years of education (and the student loans to prove it) plus residency, how was board certification not the next rationale step? To add to my panic, I was also pregnant and in my third trimester with our first child; I had no idea what to expect with our near future, let alone his career aspirations now. But, for those of you that don’t know Nate, he is not the rule follower that I am and is always in search of a new adventure and experience. And that is one of the many things I love about him – so for better or for worse,  I supported his decision. And after 3 months of night classes, the adjustment of having a newborn, and studying for/taking his test, I become married to Nate Hedrick, PharmD, Realtor – who you now know and love as the Real Estate RPh.

I personally am not real estate savvy, probably barely even real estate literate. Did you read the “residency” training clinical pearl about changing your furnace filter?  I didn’t know that was a thing. I just know that occasionally Nate may tell me he’s “busy” because he is “scheduled” to change the furnace filter. I still don’t understand what escrow is, even though I’ve asked my realtor husband at least 4 times in the last 6 months and he kindly explains every time I ask. But I know many of you may be in the same boat as me – interested in real estate, maybe a homeowner or looking for your first home, and possibly interested in investing (either now or in the future), but feeling overwhelmed with where to start. My goal is to tell our story of real estate investing through my eyes – the not real estate expert. Hopefully, you can relate to some of my experiences, emotions, and maybe even learn a few things along the way.