ROCHESTER, NY — A couple in their early 20s says they bought a starter home in Rochester after years of renting, rising costs, and several failed bids. The pair, a 24-year-old registered nurse and a 25-year-old construction worker, said they closed in March on a single-family house after first listing their maximum budget at $220,000.
The home ultimately sold for $189,000, with a $10,000 down payment and $7,000 in closing costs. Their monthly mortgage is $1,600, and they also reported about $4,000 in property taxes. The house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,792 square feet on 0.2 acres, giving them more room than the townhouse they had been renting downtown.
What Their Offer Showed
The couple said they saw five homes in person and made four offers before getting the one they wanted. They were outbid by $80,000 on a house in Greece and by $120,000 on a house in Chili, and another bid in Gates went nowhere when sellers would not negotiate on repairs. Their accepted offer started at the asking price of $179,000, then rose to $189,000 after they were told another bid was in play.
The property they bought is in Rochester’s west side and near the 19th Ward, which they said mattered because it keeps them close to family and the hospital where she works. They also wanted a fenced backyard for their two dogs and a place that would need little updating. Their agent, Jenna Monachino, helped test the sellers on price after the couple had already lost out several times.
Why They Kept Looking
Renting had become harder to justify, the couple said, because their downtown townhouse cost $2,000 a month and would have risen by another $100 plus pet rent if they renewed. They also said the area was noisy and crowded, with traffic, sirens, limited parking, and an inconvenient walk to take out trash. Those conditions pushed them to keep looking even though they felt young to buy.
Both said their parents owned homes, which made homeownership feel normal rather than out of reach. They first tried to buy when he was 21, but they did not have enough credit history yet, so they spent more time renting, saving, and building credit. She said she had imagined owning a home since childhood, while he said buying had long been his main goal.
What Happens Next
To make the purchase work, she used an FHA loan and said the $10,000 down payment came from her Roth IRA after two years at the hospital. The couple also said their parents helped with closing costs and that both of them picked up extra shifts to cover expenses. Their house closed March 4, three days after their lease ended, which let them move without carrying two housing payments at once.
The one part still in motion is his own housing plan. He said the mortgage company removed him from the title and loan before closing, which kept him eligible for a first-time homebuyer program that covers down payment and closing costs. He said he plans to use his savings later on a separate property as a rental or flip. Readers who want the same kind of program can check with local lenders, FHA-approved mortgage providers, and first-time buyer assistance offices in Monroe County and New York State.
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