When I accepted the job as morning meteorologist here at KOCO and moved to Oklahoma City, I decided it was time to buy my first house. I had grown tired of renting and felt like now was the right time for me. It was an exciting, exhausting and frightening experience all wrapped up into one.
The exciting part: getting to explore a whole community as I shopped for a house. Having never been to the OKC area before, it was vitally important to me to get to know this area and the people before I was ever on-air at KOCO. Looking for a house in various parts of the city, and in Edmond, really helped me get sense of the "lay of the land". I like how most of the city is gridded out, that helps us newcomers.
The exhausting part: trying to find the right house for me while spending extra long hours here preparing myself and also getting geared up for severe weather season. I also knew the house was a big commitment on my part, so I was picky. I probably looked at at least 30 houses (some three or four times). Luckily, I had a patient realtor (thanks Jack and Power Team). The day I closed on my house and got the keys, we had 5" of rain (remember March 30th?). I came to realize that moving in and getting situated with all of our Spring storms was going to be a slow, slow procedure.
The frightening part: having a mortgage..need I say more. Also, all of that paperwork. I think somewhere along the line I signed a paper that said "right to first born", or something like that.
Having a home as made me feel a part of this community very quickly. Everyone I have met has been so nice and accommodating, I'm certainly proud to say I live here.