From California to Texas: Our Real Estate Journey (So Far)
Our real estate story took an unexpected turn—and it’s been one exciting ride.
I bought my second home with Severin in Old Torrance, a charming neighborhood known for its tree-lined streets and beautiful 1920s and ’30s Craftsman and Spanish-style bungalows. It was nostalgic, peaceful, and picture-perfect. But after two years of suburban living (and post-pandemic life settling in), I started to feel the itch for something new.
One day, I floated the idea to Severin:
“What if we sold the house now—during peak inflation—cashed out, and moved somewhere completely new?”
To my surprise, he was immediately on board. No hesitation. We listed the house in February 2022 and had 23 offers within the weekend, ultimately selling well over asking. It was fast, surreal, and the start of our next big chapter.
Investing with Intention: A Home for Mom
With some equity in hand, my next move was personal — I wanted to reinvest and, more importantly, help take care of my mom. The goal? Find her a single-story home in a neighborhood close to a Vietnamese community.
After some serious online house hunting (bless you, real estate filters), I found the one—a 1970s ranch-style home in Katy, Texas. We closed in March, sight unseen. It had everything I was looking for: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open kitchen layout, a quiet and safe community, and—crucially—walking distance to Ranch 99. Priorities, right?
The Katy House: Our Third Home
The house is a cozy 2,000 square feet, not including a detached garage, and sits on a spacious 10,000 square foot lot — plenty of room for our three pups to roam. One of my favorite features? It’s flooded with natural light, something that was non-negotiable for me.
We leaned on a trusted local agent to vet the property and hired a top-notch inspector whose detailed report sealed the deal. Thanks to a traveling notary, we were able to handle all the paperwork from our Torrance home. We submitted an offer $10K above asking to stay competitive in the red-hot market — and it worked.
A Temporary Move, A New Adventure
While our Tulum villa is still under construction, we decided to temporarily move into the Katy home with my mom. The movers arrived in early May, and just like that, we became Texas residents (for now).
I’ve always had a soft spot for vintage 1970s ranch homes, so I’m diving into a full redesign and renovation of the space. Think: clean lines, earthy tones, and plenty of character. I’ll be sharing before-and-afters and design updates soon — possibly even a few Reels if I can get myself in front of the camera.
A New Chapter in More Ways Than One
The biggest update? Severin’s last day at his corporate job is April 1st (yes, April Fool’s—but it’s for real!). We’ve officially gone into business together and formed an LLC for our Tulum ventures. It’s a major step for both of us and a big part of what we’ve been building toward.
We’re excited for this next chapter—more flexibility, more creative freedom, and more space (literally and figuratively) to dream bigger.
Until next time.
