What We Learned Buying a 1950s Home – & Renovating Both Bathrooms!
Back in April, my husband and I rounded out one of the craziest seasons of our lives as we signed many, many documents to officially close on our first home. 🎉 The home buying process was nothing short of exciting, thrilling, sanctifying, stressful, and emotional—truly all the things. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like buying your first home, this one’s for you.
If you follow me on social media, you know that we not only bought a house just seven months after getting married, but we also renovated it—something we absolutely did not anticipate when we started the first-time home buyer journey. Before jumping in, we sat down with our realtor (who also happens to be a dear friend) to learn more about buying a house, what to expect financially, and how to prepare for the process. Along the way, I learned so much about myself, the Lord, and what truly goes into purchasing a home.
So today, I’m finally sitting down to share our story of buying a 1950s home, navigating the house buying process, renovating two bathrooms, and the biggest lessons we learned—especially if you’re thinking about buying a house in the near future.
Our Story: Buying Our First Home
Let’s start from the beginning. Andy and I first talked about buying a house in November of 2024, about three months after we got married. We quickly realized we weren’t aligned on where we wanted to buy, how much house we could afford, what style of home we wanted, or even how much to put down. So, we tabled the conversation.
In February, we both felt individually prompted to prayerfully consider buying a house again. After praying separately, we both felt peace about taking the next step and meeting with a trusted realtor to better understand the first-time home buying process.
That conversation was incredibly informative and helped us understand home prices, mortgage expectations, and what buying a house actually looks like behind the scenes (something I was woefully unfamiliar with). If you’re anything like me and your home buying knowledge comes from watching House Hunters with your mom, let me give you a quick overview of what you should know before buying a house.
What You Should Know Before Buying a House
Pray first. Ask the Lord how He would have you steward your finances and use your home as a resource for His kingdom.
Meet with a realtor you trust. Finding a realtor who knows you personally and can counsel you through decisions is invaluable. Ours was so much more than someone who just showed us houses.
Choose a general area to search. Consider school districts, lot sizes, resale value, and neighborhood layout. One thing my mom always taught me: avoid houses near power lines, train tracks, or busy roads—they can significantly impact resale value.
Talk to a lender early. This step feels very adult, but it’s essential. A lender will review your finances and explain what price range you can realistically afford based on your down payment, income, and mortgage options.
Once you speak with a lender, they’ll help determine your ideal home budget. Our lender shared that your mortgage payment should ideally be no more than 30% of your combined income, which gave us a really helpful framework as we began house hunting.
Buying a 1950s Fixer-Upper
We toured about five homes across North Dallas. While they were all nice, none of them felt like home. Our current house was actually the last one we toured—and honestly, it was meant to be an “extra option.” We mainly wanted to see the original hardwood floors (which I love), and this house had them.
The moment we walked in, I fell in love. I loved the layout, the kitchen size, and the charm that only an older home has. It was the first house I could truly envision raising a family in. I could picture kids running down the hallway, decorating a nursery, and hosting holidays—it just felt right.
Our one hesitation? The bathrooms. They were… memorable. We lovingly nicknamed them Elphaba and Glinda—the master bath was bright green, and the guest bath was bright pink. Built in the 1950s, the tilework definitely reflected its era. We knew buying this house would mean renovating both bathrooms.
And that’s exactly what we did.
Closing on Our First Home & Renovating Two Bathrooms
We put an offer on the house in early March, went through the option period, negotiated repairs after the home inspection, and officially closed in early April. It was easily one of the most sanctifying, stressful, and joyful seasons of our marriage.
After closing, we began a month-and-a-half bathroom renovation. Thankfully, we still had our apartment lease until July, which allowed us to renovate before moving in—a decision that saved us a lot of stress. While this was our first home renovation experience, I genuinely loved choosing tile, paint colors, mirrors, bath mats, and light fixtures. When I felt stuck, Andy was incredibly supportive, offering feedback and helping make decisions. I truly love owning a home with him.
Lessons We Learned Buying Our First Home & Renovating Bathrooms
After eight months of homeownership, here’s what we’ve learned:
Homes are meant for hosting!! Invite your people over often.
Not every home project needs to happen immediately! This one was hard for me—I wanted everything done at once.
There is so much freedom in owning a home! Paint the walls, hang the wallpaper, renovate the bathroom—it’s your space.
Expect things to break… Get a home warranty. Even with newer homes, things happen, and the coverage is worth it.
Ask thoughtful questions when buying an older home! Ask about plumbing (cast iron vs. PVC), gas lines, roof age, HVAC systems, and school districts. These questions matter more than you think.
Let the process be fun!!! Buying a home with your spouse or partner is special—don’t miss the magic by getting lost in stress.
Owning a home is a big responsibility, but it is so worth it. I’ve loved watching our little Texas home come together, and I share updates regularly on Instagram and TikTok. If you see something you love, I always have everything linked in my home LTK collection.
XO,
Em
