Home Is Where The Heart Is

By HATTIE FOOTE

Welcome to the annual Coronado Magazine Real Estate issue! Obviously you’re reading this to learn everything I know about the market, so gather around and listen up.

Absolutely nothing! I’m embarrassed to admit, but I simply don’t understand anything about real estate.

You should have seen me when we purchased our first home three years ago; I would sit in meetings and nod my head while I was disassociating and thinking about what was for dinner or when the next episode of Real Housewives was. One thing I do know is how important it is to have a real estate agent who has your best interests in mind and that you feel comfortable with. I feel so incredibly lucky that our realtor, Kathleen Hanlon, is one of the best in the business and just so happens to be a close family friend. In fact, I used to babysit her kids, and now her daughter babysits my kids! Small-town cuteness! I can’t recommend her enough for real estate and friendship!

I also must shout out my girls Molly Haines McKay and Katie Herrick, who are knowledgeable, trustworthy, and just awesome human beings. Coronado is so lucky to have such an incredible group of realtors working tirelessly to help us find our dream homes in paradise. We are currently in the process of remodeling said dream home, and I really, REALLY don’t want to sound like a tone-deaf brat because it is so exciting, and I am so grateful. However, let’s just say it has been a process. A process filled with expletives. Everything they say is true: home renovation takes twice the time and is twice the cost.

There was a home in our neighborhood that was being worked on for what seemed like forever, and my husband and I had a running joke about what was taking them so long. Well, the joke was on us because here we were scheduled to be back in by December, but now, fingers crossed for May. If I could give one tip for anybody about to embark on this journey, I would say take your time with who you choose to do the job. Make sure they are really listening to your needs and know what they are doing.

I know one day we will look back on this chaotic time of our lives fondly, our poor neighbors listening to our loud family in a tiny apartment, probably not so fondly. I think the recent horrific fires in Los Angeles really put things in perspective for all of us. I know it was a wake-up call for me to be appreciative of every single problem I have because it pales in comparison to what others are going through.

I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the “fancy” neighborhood that families lived in was called Tanoan. It was a gated community complete with a golf course, pool, and McMansions straight out of 80s romance novels. As a high schooler, I thought it was just so chic and lucky that those people lived in that area. Now, as a grown woman, matching homes with a guard is low-key my nightmare.

One of my favorite things about Coronado is the vast variety of different home styles. Every single street is lined with rich history and charm. My family and I always play a game when we are walking out and about, listing which houses we would like to be able to look around in. I won’t name mine here for fear I will look like a creep, but I have a long wish list.

The closest I get to wandering around beautiful houses is the Coronado Historical Association’s Annual Mother’s Day Historic Home Tour, which falls on May 11th this year. This gives you ample time to grab tickets (they sell out every year), make reservations for brunch, and book a spa day. Heck, maybe I will add my home to the tour! At this point, I might not have a front door or roof, but I’m happy to have you at Casa de Foote! I’ll even let you in without a ticket as long as you bring housewarming champagne!