The year 2024 is, to say the least, a rollercoaster. Lots of ups and downs. At the end of 2023 when I was traveling in Istanbul, I saw a listing of an apartment that despite being a little over-priced, was just what I was looking for and had been looking for for over 6 months now. And if we are honest, years now. I started to save up money for down payment almost three years ago and got a mortgage loan (well, a promise of one if and when I find an apartment I want to buy) in June 2023. So ever since June 2023, I’ve been seriously looking for an apartment. I knew the location that I prefer the most in my city, it’s a small suburb not that far from where I grew up and it has been developing beautifully the last two decades. And the listing that I saw in Istanbul was from that location. But since it was a little overpriced, I simply dismissed it as a passing fancy.
But on the coming days, I found myself checking on the listing time and time again. I even bookmarked it. In January, however, I received the very sad news that my favorite uncle had suddenly passed away and I went into a mourning period. Not until the end of January, I suddenly remember the listing and checked on it and it was still on sale. On a whim, I contacted the realtor for a viewing, not expecting to put in an offer, just wanted to experience a viewing so that I would get used to the process again (last time I was looking for an apartment to buy was when I was in my 20s). Very quickly, a viewing was arranged, on the last Thursday of January. On the last Monday of January, I decided to put in an offer, about 10K lower than the actual asking price. And long story short, I’m writing this in my new apartment! The actual process went ahead super fast. All of the paperwork was done and I signed the papers on Valentine’s Day.
The whole of February was spent purging my tiny studio rental apartment from things I don’t need or want anymore. And miraculously, I got rid of almost 50 giant bagful of stuff. In mid-March, I moved out of my beloved studio that was my home for the last 7 years and into what I would like to call my forever home. I’m planning to live through my most glorious decade aka my 40s and 50s and then retire in this apartment. So it’s a good thing that I really really like it. It’s an old building but newly renovated (which is what I prefer). I has a small bedroom with a giant wardrobe, a separate ‘storage room’, small bathroom that still fits a washer-dryer combo. The kitchen is somehow smaller than my studio apartment kitchen but it has new appliances and a gas stove (which is not that common in Finland) and a foodie, I love using it. Most of the space went into the giant living-room with a lovely balcony with only trees as my view. And since it’s on the 6th floor, no neighbors are blocking that view either. It has east-facing windows all throughout the apartment, making it very bright but not too hot since the sun is not shining inside throughout the day. All in all, I love it a lot.
Now on my 4th week living in the new apartment, it starts to feel like home, and the feeling of ‘I’ve always been here’ starts to settle in. I feel safe and secure, and it feels very cozy and peaceful. I still have to get used to traveling longer distances to my workplace and to the city center, but I can see myself living here for the rest of my life. 😀
Slap Ass For Motivation 