Becky made the papers!

A wonderful Newspaper article came out in the commercial Appeal about Becky today. Here is a copy:

Owning a home not out of reach for enterprising college student

My New Home

By Kate Miller Morton
Contact
July 11, 2004

Paying her way through Christian Brothers University with a nighttime bar tending job, 21-year-old Rebecca Taylor learned the value of a dollar early.

So while most students would be happy sharing an apartment with friends, Taylor was dissatisfied.

"I got tired of paying rent," she said. "I was just throwing money down the drain. I wanted to start building equity in something."

Taylor is the owner of a three-bedroom, two-bath home off Charles Bryan Road between Summer and Elmore.

Taylor purchased the 1,044-square-foot house near the Whitten Road exit off Interstate 40 on May 13 for $96,500.

Taylor said she probably wouldn't have followed through on her desire for homeownership if it hadn't been for her mother's friend and Crye-Leike agent Brenda Hampton.

In addition to leading her on a five-month house search, Hampton also served as a mentor on the home-buying process.

Hampton said Taylor is the youngest client she has ever worked with, but the learning curve for Taylor was not different than that of any other first-time buyer.

Taylor knew she wanted a house under $100,000 located near her family in Bartlett. She also wanted easy access to the Interstate so she could get to school quickly.

Hampton said the area of Memphis where Taylor's house is located proved to be fertile ground for that price range.

"I found a lot of homes in the area I didn't expect to find because I hadn't worked a lot in that area," Hampton said. "I was really impressed with the area and the price range over there."

Although she continued her search for months afterward, Taylor immediately liked the house that is now hers.

"It was the first house she showed me," Taylor said. "It was in good shape to begin with but it also had a lot of potential."

The layout and size of the 1993 home were attractive.

"It wasn't too big, but it was big enough," she said. "I could have my bedroom, a spare bedroom and my office."

Taylor moved into her home two months ago and said it's much better than an apartment.

She no longer has to share the space with roommates, and she doesn't have to worry about waking her neighbors when she comes home from work.

Pictures and light fixtures have been hung and the living room, dining room and kitchen areas already look homey. Taylor is eager to finish decorating the bedrooms.

"I'm a very impatient person," she said.

Buying a home was a financial stretch, she said.

Taylor saved money for four months and had enough to cover approximately $5,000 in earnest money and closing costs.

Her $850 a month mortgage payment is more than double her former share of the rent, but less than $100 more than she and her roommates together paid for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

She and her boyfriend eat out less and she has curtailed her shopping for things other than household items.

"I don't get as interested in buying clothes as I am buying things for the house," she said.

- Kate Miller Morton: 529-2351