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| 41-40 Union Street, Apt 3O Flushing NY 11355 |
I experienced a life-changing professional development training called FastForward in December 2014. It was rooted in this idea of "fast forwarding" all aspects of your life and the north star was the Vision we created for ourself. FF changed the way I use language to empower, change my perspective and take ownership of my life.
I have documented throughout my blogpost journey (albeit with a HUGE gap in 2015!) about my mother, specifically how much she does for me and my family so I can live my best life. She has been living in the same building for the past nearly 40 years since first immigrating to New York. All four of us first moved into a one bedroom apartment (7B) and shortly thereafter moved four floors down to apartment 3O which is still my mom's home today. This is the same apartment where she lost her husband and also the same home that was burglarized around 10 years ago. However this is the only home my mother has ever known. In fact she has gotten accustomed to her neighborhood and has even grown somewhat dependent on its conveniences like the subway, grocery stores and restaurants. As far as my mother was concerned, she planned on living the rest of her life here.
I first got the idea to buy my mother a new home two years ago. It was literally just an idea or perhaps a fleeting thought here and there or even a pipe dream. But through my hard work over the past two years and Tae's own success with his own business and investments, I grew more confident that I could do it. I initially set a goal through my Vision of 2017. But then I said to myself, "Time isn't on anyone's side. I'd like to pull the trigger on 2016." So I set that goal for myself and when we rang in the New Year earlier this year, I instructed my mother to work with a realtor to find her dream home in the building of her choice. She of course didn't want it. She told me to save my money. However I told her that I already made my decision and gave her the choice to choose, or else I would choose for her.
My mother chose The Bay Club in Bayside. It has a full-service club that's attached to the building housing dozens of activities and services such as an olympic sized pool, sauna, fitness center, movie room, restaurant, dry cleaner, grocery store and hair salon. The Bay Club is also very easily accessible by highway and is walking distance to the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, so it doesn't feel isolated. She went to open houses with her realtor who conveniently lives in her current building. When she found a good prospect, she would let me know. Then Tae and I would go see it with Tae's expert eyes.
The first apartment we saw was 14S. It was on the market for $728K. It was in terrible shape where every square inch of the unit would have to be renovated. There were tiles in the living room, condensation between the window panes indicating they needed to be replaced, etc. I put in an initial offer of $560K and worked my way up to $600K. Tae estimated $100K in renovation costs and my targeted budget was $700K. They wanted $680K and I walked.
Two weeks later, my mom asked me to go see unit 7P which had just come on the market a week prior. My first reaction was, "7P...very close to our first apartment in the US 7B...maybe this is a sign." Tae was away at a bachelor party that weekend so I ended up going by myself. I knew the minute I walked in that this was my mom's dream home. The apartment was pristine with new floors and freshly painted walls. The bedrooms were on opposite ends of the living room and you could see the Throgs Neck Bridge from every room. I put in an offer the next day of $620K. The next day, we received a counter of $650K. The following day I put in an adjusted offer of $640K and it was accepted that evening.
Tomorrow, I am dropping off the contract deposit check of $64K with my attorney and my brother's friend since high school, Jenny. I cannot believe this is finally happening. I am lucky to have had countless proud moments. This is definitely in the Top 10. No one deserved this more than my mother and I'm humbled by the fact that I. DID. IT. Mom, say good-bye to 41-40 Union Street, Apt 3O Flushing NY 11355 and hello to Two Bay Club Drive, Apt 7P Bayside NY 11360.
Here are the pics of the apartment in its current state. I will be sure to post renovated pictures as soon as that step is completed.
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| The girls checking out grandma's new home. |
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| Entrance and dining room |
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| Kitchen entry |
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| Rest of the kitchen |
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| Guest bath |
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| Guest room |
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| Guest room closet |
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| Master bedroom |
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| Master bath |
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| Master room alternate view |
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| The view! Hello Throgs Neck Bridge! |
Two weeks later, my mom asked me to go see unit 7P which had just come on the market a week prior. My first reaction was, "7P...very close to our first apartment in the US 7B...maybe this is a sign." Tae was away at a bachelor party that weekend so I ended up going by myself. I knew the minute I walked in that this was my mom's dream home. The apartment was pristine with new floors and freshly painted walls. The bedrooms were on opposite ends of the living room and you could see the Throgs Neck Bridge from every room. I put in an offer the next day of $620K. The next day, we received a counter of $650K. The following day I put in an adjusted offer of $640K and it was accepted that evening. 
