I finished paying off my condo about six years ago. Almost done with my remodel, which I did myself to prove I could do it. It looks like something you might see in a fancy magazine, a place owned by a renowned art collector.

I am debating on the dining table and chairs, and have yet to install the new counters, but it’s seconds away from being done. My realtor said it’s worth $50,000 more than I thought and she hasn’t seen it since I redid it.

Before buying, I always only had $7,000 in the bank. Now, I have much more and I own in a highly regarded town in Northern California. Admittedly, I do not have the million in cash I have been told you need to retire (years ago), but almost all my friends are renting (except the smart ones who encouraged me to buy) and they are paying thousands more in rent than I was paying in mortgage. Buying took ten years. I threw everything at it. But, now it’s done. Savings is your freedom a friend used to say. And freedom is peace of mind.

Without the mortgage, I would have never disciplined myself. And again, I never paid more than people were paying for rent, and my mortgage went down by half after I refinanced. I helped move a friend last night from a place that made weekly inspections and raised her rent by $300 after one year. She’s moved a lot lately, and she pays $3000 for a small two-bedroom. Who can afford that?

My advise is to buy what you can afford with a huge safety cushion. Take the hit now. Most places on sale are at their best. Throw everything out you don’t love and hunker down. In ten years, you will have paid it off. Then you are free to save for retirement. Do this before I did.

I wish you could experience what I feel looking at natural wood tables with recycled blue chairs or an all white table and chairs. There are stainless steel appliances to consider, whether charcoal or white CB2 sofas. It’s only a matter of time before this masterpiece is completed. I am an artist working on my art. It is a project of love and something for my resume.

Here is are pictures of the living room, bedroom, dining room, and bathroom: