looking for a new home

I went on the internet to see what I can buy with $500,000. I had wanted to live in Santa Monica. I found a one bedroom, one bathroom house in Santa Monica for $500,000 (2001). There were a few 2 bedrooms, one bathroom houses in Mar Vista at that price. I decided to drive around the area to check it out, go to some open houses. I liked the area a lot and decided that that's the place I'm going to look for my next house. I looked through my journals and found this entry dated March 2001.
Affirmations: 1) I am going to live in Mar Vista in a 3 bedroom 2 bathrooms house with a small yard, garage and a gourmet kitchen. 2) within 3 months.
This was before I even went house hunting. The plan was to sell my house first, move in with my brother till I find the new house 3 months after that affirmation, it was moving day! While living in my brother's house, I went house hunting. I fell in love with this adorable 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom house. The 2 car garage was converted into an office and a bedroom with a bathroom. The kitchen has a commercial stove with hood. It was exactly like I had envision in my affirmations.

sell a house, buy another house

People write that we must have goals written down. It works. The desires we have in our souls must be written down so as to reinforce their power and we will draw those desires into fulfillment in our lives. After my divorce I bought a 'cheapie' house in Anaheim, Ca. It had potential but for the 5 years I lived there, that was all it still have. I did nothing to it. I did pay down the mortgage after I liquidated $150,000 worth of stocks just before the tech bubble bursted. One day I decided I was tired of living like that in the house of undeveloped potential. I decided to fix it up. Just then I also decided to move instead. I called in a few realtors and soon realized that realtors worked only for their own bottom line and not the homeowners'. Both wanted to sell the house cheaply, making all kinds of excuses why it couldn't fetch more money. I wanted to pull $120,000 out of the house sale and together with $30,000 of savings, be able to put $150,000 down on another house. If I cold qualify for a $350,000 mortgage (which I did) I could go shopping for a house worth $500,000. I have always wanted to live near the ocean. It's cooler especially during the hot summer months in Southern California.

midlife financial check

net worth $616,000 it's going to be a while before I can retire. Money mistakes, I have plenty, which included a do it yourself divorce and losing money in a business venture with family members. I got far less than what I was entittled to in a divorce even though I made the most contribution. I made twice what he made when he worked which was less often. I gave $80,000 to some family members and never saw a cent. Who does not have a few such stories in their closet. It took 7 seven years to climb out of this financial mess. It was more a spiritual mess that was the most painful. We don't realize that our decisions come from our emotions. We have a huge ego especially after the end of a relationship. We do things from that egotistical point of view which is laced with plenty of emotions. Until 7 years ago I did not realize this. When I did, it clicked and things, especially financial matters, fell into place. Today, with a greater understanding about my emotions, I have better control over my life and my finances. Today I am more at peach with myself. I do things to please myself. I do due diligence on major financial matters. I am the ultimate frugal living maven. I have kept some notes from 7 years ago and looking back at thse notes, they seem almost prophetic..... stay in touch for more