Customer story: How the Homeward Cash Offer leveled the playing field for these first-time homebuyers
Choosing to start a family is both exciting and terrifying.
Even the bravest among us feel nervous at the thought of shouldering responsibility for a little baby. When you add fertility challenges into the equation, each step in the journey to parenthood is fraught with even more emotion and anxiety. For Angie and Ty Garrison, this emotional roller coaster also coincided with each of them landing new teaching jobs on the other side of Houston in the summer of 2021.
“We had moved once every year for the last four years. We knew we didn’t want an hour-long commute each way, but we also didn’t want to move again unless it was permanent.” - Angie, first-time homebuyer
Finding a place to rent near their new school districts was an option, but not an appealing one. “It made us feel anxious knowing we would have to put our things in storage yet again,” says Angie. “We had moved once every year for the last four years. We knew we didn’t want an hour-long commute each way, but we also didn’t want to move again unless it was permanent. On top of that, rising rent prices had us worried that things would get costly.”
A safe space to call home
Finding a home to call their own was about more than just a shorter commute. They were ready to put down roots. Yes, finding a place near their new jobs would put them closer to family and work, but it would also give them a safe and private place to navigate the road to parenthood. “It’s a very personal experience,” says Angie. “You want to have your privacy. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, if we don’t have a house or even a place to stay…’”
As first-time homebuyers, Angie and Ty knew nothing about the homebuying process. When a relative recommended they reach out to Grant Rothberg, owner of Rothberg Realty Group, they happily did so. Grant is a combat veteran and a respected realtor in the Greater Houston Area, and after a few conversations with him, they both knew they’d found the perfect partner for their homebuying journey. “With every step of the process, Grant explained it to us in layman’s terms. He never made us feel silly or dumb for not knowing something. His approach was really consistent and transparent, and he made us feel really comfortable throughout the whole process.”
The countdown begins
Angie and Ty’s homebuying journey started the moment their summer vacation began. Because they were both teachers, they knew summer break would be a perfect opportunity to focus on finding a great home before the new school year (and new jobs) started up in August. But the Houston housing market was hot, and they were worried about being able to find something before the new school year began. As they assessed options with Grant, he recommended Homeward as a tool that could help them quickly purchase the house they wanted.
“My clients trust me to help them accomplish their goal of finding a home, and I don’t know of any tool better equipped for that than a cash offer. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I knew there was a tool like Homeward and I didn’t advise every client to use it.” - Grant Rothberg, Rothberg Realty Group
“I recommend Homeward whenever possible because I know it gives my clients the very best chance to land the house they want the first time,” says Grant. “My clients trust me to help them accomplish their goal of finding a home, and I don’t know of any tool better equipped for that than a cash offer. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I knew there was a tool like Homeward and I didn’t advise every client to use it.”
Was it too good to be true?
Angie and Ty were skeptical at first. “Grant explained the benefits of Homeward to us as soon as we began our search. We had both heard about the rise in buyers preferring cash offers because of how competitive the market was, but we thought it was too good to be true.”
They knew they should give it their due diligence, so they had several calls with their Homeward Customer Experience Manager. “She was super patient with us as we went through all the documents,” Angie shared. “Just like Grant, she never made us feel dumb for not knowing things. Homeward was really on top of it and communicative.”
After seeing a number of houses and losing out on one they liked, Angie and Ty found a home they loved in early July 2021. The house had only been on the market for a day, but they moved quickly. With Grant’s help, they put in a Homeward Cash Offer the very next day. “We knew this was a home we wanted to put our best offer forward on,” says Ty.
Dreams become reality
Although it was everything they’d been dreaming of, they were still shocked when their offer was accepted. “There were multiple offers, and we weren’t the highest offer,” reflects Grant. “It was a combination of the certainty of a cash offer and the speed that made Angie and Ty’s offer really attractive.” Speed was certainly a big factor for everyone, because just three weeks later Angie and Ty moved into their new home.
“I was so impressed with how quickly things went,” says Angie. “The family we bought the house from were also moving, and the lady mentioned how the shorter closing period with Homeward was really significant to them. It really stood out to her.”
“The family we bought the house from were also moving, and the lady mentioned how the shorter closing period with Homeward was really significant to them. It really stood out to her.”
Home at last
Angie and Ty were overjoyed to finally move everything out of storage. They moved into their new home on July 23. Two short weeks later, Angie began IVF treatment and they both started their new jobs. “It was just a huge weight off my shoulders,” says Angie. “I just kept thinking, ‘I’m so glad we have a home.’ I can’t imagine having to go through all that while trying to find an apartment and move.”
That gratitude is still on their minds months later: “We wake up every day feeling so incredibly grateful for our home, the people who helped us get here, and all the events that aligned in our life to get us to this place. As teachers with a tight budget, we were aware we needed something to help us stand out. Homeward’s cash offer and short closing time sold us and helped us get here. It’s truly amazing to be able to say we own this home.”
