The Ally Way

Our First Picture

Early 2011 Eric decided he loved me enough to deal with my endless trail of dirty clothing and supply of half empty water glasses lying around.  I decided I could deal with the fact that he folds his socks.  Not tuck and rolls… but literally folds.  We decided it was time to take that leap and move in together.

The next big decision was “where do we live?”.  Eric lived in an apartment with his two friends on Elmwood. It was exactly what you would expect from three men with no wives or children.  The kind of place where impromptu 4am Four loko parties happened… on week nights.

The Famous Vitos

On the up side it was also within walking distance from Spot coffee, Blue monk, Blue Fin, McGarrett’s, Pano’s, numerous boutiques and many of our friends.  Including the famous Vito sisters ❤

Mom and Dad

So, why did we not get an apartment in Buffalo?  Because I felt I owed my community more.   I believe that growing up in Niagara Falls helped shape who I am. It gave me the courage to venture out, travel the world, study abroad and hopefully aquire some knowledge that will one day help shape a brighter future.  Plus, these two on the right need me more than they will admit… and just maybe I need them.

SO, Eric made the trip across Grand Island and moved in with me at the Jefferson.  Fast forward over a year (yes a whole year as that time is a tale for another day) and we are ready to dig our heals in, plant some seeds and buy a home.

I hear buying a home is stressful.  Not “I can’t feed my children” level of stressful but somewhere between “what flavor of chapstick to wear” and “how am I going to pay for groceries next week” stressful.  Considering Eric and I are taking it all in stride, must mean a couple of things 1. Our Agent Zach Casale of Hooper Realty is awesome and 2. We were very lucky.

For about three weeks we looked at homes online.  Only three weeks. Then one day we ventured out and toured three homes.  Just three.  We walked into the third and I screeched “OH MY GOD WE NEED TO HAVE THIS!!”

This is our future home 🙂

So when someone asks “Why Niagara Falls?” I will invite them over to our 2,366 sqft home from 1864. I will walk them accross the street to the huge park with historic buildings,  I will show them our view of canada, I will take them on a 2 minute walk to the gorge and if they are lucky I will show them the hidden grave.

You can not beat the cost of living here.  We have both managed to find jobs we are very happy with and the real-estate is almost too good to be true.  We purchased a home on the salary of a social worker and graphic designer that in any other city would be very far beyond our price range. To be exact, in California real estate costs an average of 81% more, meaning our home would cost over 200,000. Does Niagara Falls have problems? Yes, many.  But I truly believe the good far out weighs the bad. This home is a perfect example of why.