Pandemic Stories: Danuta Hinc

"I moved into my dream house in the woods!"

"Tim and I were looking for a house for a year, but because of the pandemic our search was limited to looking at houses online. In September 2020, after a year of looking, we found a house that was ideal. I was looking at the house for so long that I memorized the entire interior, and already decided where my study room would be located, upstairs in the room with two windows. We decided to drive to the house to see it before calling the listing agent. We didn't have to rush. The craziness of the housing market hadn't happened yet.

One day on a weekend we drove to the property just to learn that we can't get close to the house because there is a gate and the gate was closed. A week or so went by before we called the agent, but by that time the house was already off the market. The agent informed us that the house is rented and the renters refused access for showings (too much hassle). The owner (who lived in a different state) was forced to take the house off the market until May 2021, when the renters were supposed to move out. We were also told that if we are really really serious, he can ask the renters for one more showing.

A week later we were allowed to see the house and were told that if we want to buy the house while the renters are in it, we don't have to wait until May 2021. So we did! Only later, when the housing market spun out of control in the beginning of 2021 did we learn the true extent of our luck.

We love the house and we love turning it slowly into our home."

-Danuta Hinc

Have a quarantine story from the past year you would like to share? Email rgrant15@umd.edu to share your story.