Life Lately //Update on My Most Recent Move

Do you ever have an idea pop into your head and think to yourself... What if? 

Well, that happens to me quite often, and I tend to be the type of person who leans in and tries it. My family and friends sometimes question my insanity because what I'm talking about isn't like trying out a new paint color. 

No...it's more like, let's uproot your life and do something BIG! Whether it's traveling the world for weeks on end, deciding I want to house hack and buy a multi-family property with little to no research, leaving my 9-5 for a 100% commission based role, demoing an entire home's interior and rebuilding it bit by bit, or deciding to move last minute with a 3 weeks notice - you could say my family isn't in the wrong for questioning my thought process from time to time. 

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

One thing I've taught myself over the years through these random life pivots is that although they come with stress, added workload, disruption to my routine, and some frustrating learnings. When I take these leaps of faith to try something new, what I tend to take away from the opportunity is SO much bigger and better than any uncomfortable moments I experience. 

By leaning into the discomfort and seeing things as an opportunity to grow and learn, I experience SO much more out of life! Yes, things don't work seamlessly, usually because I just jump into action mode and don't prep things out to a "t,” but I figure it out along the way. I make mental notes of what to do differently next time. I learn more about myself and what I like/dislike, and I adapt! 

So with that, I'm here to share a glimpse of what the hell I'm doing living in a downtown apartment, just a couple years after buying a home and finishing renovations… for now ;)

The burnout is real

As a mid-30s single female entrepreneur, I have been craving stronger, deeper relationships. It's a lonely journey to be a small business owner that is in charge of making every decision for her business + team, and to work endlessly. 

I have put many parts of my life on hold and/or have pulled back from many things that bring me joy throughout the years - such as my love for travel, prioritizing my dating life, my health, time with friends + family, and so much more. Work was my #1 priority from 2018-2022. I had zero boundaries when it came to work, day or night, and as my schedule fluctuated by the hour (got to love real estate), the first things that were deprioritized were fitness, time with loved ones, and even sitting down to eat. I experienced extreme burnout multiple times per year, and I knew I needed to make a change.

I'm happy to say, over the last year and a half I have made a conscious effort to pour back into myself. I want to find more like-minded individuals to connect with and hopefully build deeper relationships with, and I want to push myself outside my comfort zone of letting go. It hasn't been an easy transition, and I can tell you without hesitation that it has come at a financial cost, but my mental and physical state are the strongest they have been in years! 

A tough pill to swallow

One of my goals this past winter was to do a solo trip out in California for a month. So, I drove across the US with my pup, Penelope, and we explored the southern coast while soaking up some sunshine throughout the month of January. It was good for the soul and reminded me of my love for living in smaller spaces that also offer a component of walkability. 

You see, the first property I purchased was a duplex where I lived, which was approximately 1,300 sq ft. It was the perfect amount of space for the pup and me, and it just made life easier. I had no idea that I was craving cozier living quarters, but I did know that walkability and being around more people in a similar life phase were important for me to find. Instead of continuing to live amongst families, I wanted to be immersed in city life - full of events, outdoor activities, and like-minded entrepreneurs!

Sooooo, like always, when I returned from California, I began to search for my next property purchase. A new property every 3-4 years isn't all that bad, right?? After taking the month of February to dig into different options downtown and also take a deep dive into my finances, I realized that this didn't align with my greater goals.

It was a tough pill to swallow, but I decided the timing wasn't right and that I would just have to wait. UNTIL I got the random thought of....why don't you just rent?! Lightbulb moment!! By renting, I could allow myself the opportunity to try life out downtown, AND I could test renting out my house. 

My new normal

I won't bore you with the financial details, but after some quick analysis of short-term vs. mid-term vs. long-term, and weighing out the logistics of fully moving vs. leaving my home as is, I decided to mid-term rent my home and rent an apartment downtown! Not only that, but this is one of those situations where I was pedal-to-the-medal without thinking and just going on blind trust that it would work out. So...I signed a lease...before I had any renters lined up...and my lease started 3 weeks later!! Pretty crazy, right?! I'm the type that just wants to rip the bandaid off and push through, so you could say that's what I did here.

I've officially been living in the apartment for about four weeks and am slowly making progress on furnishings and adapting to the new normal. There have been a lot of daily life changes that I'm working through, such as logistics with my pup, work commute + traffic, and more, but overall, I feel as though we are starting to get settled in.

As for my home, it has been booked up with Peerspace photoshoot rentals and has a 4-month mid-term rental coming up very soon. The Peerspace rentals have covered approximately 2/3 of my mortgage, and the mid-term rental will cover almost 7 months of my mortgage or 9 months of my apartment lease, depending on how you'd like to look at it.

Overall, it’s been a great learning experience

• I've gotten a look into the mid-term rental world and the type of demand the Twin Cities is seeing for this type of furnished rental option.

• I've been reminded to be alert of my surroundings and take safety measures that I use while traveling, but I have completely turned off while on autopilot here in the Twin Cities.

• I've gotten a taste for what moving looks and feels like again, and it's given me an added sense of empathy for my clients.

• I've learned that as Penelope (my pup) ages, she has become a bit less adaptable than she once was with my crazy ideas and that I will have to adapt to her needs and my own.

• I've come to understand that although I move at the speed of light, the outcomes I'm looking forward to will most likely not follow that quickly and that I need to be patient and continue to just be present in the moment.

• I've continued to push myself to meet new people and try new places. Exploring your own backyard is something I think a lot of people take for granted.

• And lastly, I've been reminded of how grateful I am of the life I've built. Comparing myself to others and what societal norms have coined as expected in certain life phases has not been the path I've taken. It's difficult to see and think of yourself as being different or questioning why your life doesn't align with so many of your friends. BUT then I remember the life I've created for myself, how many new adventures I've been given the opportunity to experience, AND that I'm in the driver's seat of my journey.

With that, I'm excited to let you all know how the months ahead unfold and what learnings I take out of this new mid-term rental experience. I'm sure there will be a lot of ups and downs, but one thing I know is that I would rather try something new than stay stagnant. 

You never know where it will lead you!

Jen

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