My husband began investing in real estate more than fifteen years ago in addition to working at his full-time job. His first purchase was the house across the street, which he renovated and flipped. He barely broke even. But he learned a lot. Over the years, he invested in more residential homes in our north Dallas neighborhood–flipping many, keeping a few as long-term rentals. He succeeded at making profit the majority of the time. But did have a few big misses. Nonetheless, he continued to learn and found that real estate enabled him to fulfill his entrepreneurial spirit.
In 2020, when houses were scarce and prices high, he sold his last few rentals. What to invest in next? Well, we thought, how about something we can enjoy as a family? We settled on a new dream of owning a short-term vacation rental. I was like, “I’d love a view of water!” [I was born and raised in California, after all.] He was like, “Let’s buy where the market is hot!” We bought where the vacation market was hottest in our general region. Broken Bow, Oklahoma. For the first time ever, we built something new instead of renovating. The process was long and hugely stressful thanks to the supply chain shortages and the increased cost of lumber in 2021 and 2022.
We were very proud of how our Broken Bow cabin turned out, but by the time all was said and done, it definitely made the most financial sense to sell it. So we did, delaying our dream of a vacation rental.
Then we went on a spring break road trip to the piney woods of East Texas last year. We were smitten with the towering pine trees, lakes, and rolling hills. My husband cold-called a local realtor’s office and said, “If you ever have a property with a view of water come on the market, please let me know.” [After selling my first cabin out from under me, he was seeing the merit of finding me something with a view of water. ;)] That realtor called back a few weeks later to say that an eight-acre piece of land on the shore of Lake O The Pines was for sale. The few pictures on the listing were terrible–grainy and unappealing. But we decided to drive out, just in case, to take a look.
This is what we found…
We COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR EYES. The piece of land was stunning.
The real estate agent my husband had cold-called turned out to be a great guy. He was also a pastor–a twist only God could have organized. He informed us that the property owners would be putting the property under contract to the highest bidder that same night. So we entered our bid. And the rest is history. We’re still amazed that we own this piece of land.
The existing house had been built in the 80’s, was extremely quirky, and far from the water. But with our history of renovating houses, we thought we might be able to go that route. We quickly learned that wasn’t going to work this time. The house had been abandoned twelve years prior and the damage done by the elements was too extreme to fix. So we began (with great trepidation after the challenging experience we had with our first cabin) to build again.
This experience has been nothing like the first. It’s been a JOY.
We expect that it will be complete in the fall and I’ll be back then to share pictures of the inside and outside. So far, the takeaway from this process has been…. If you have to let go of something, trust that God will make a way for you to discover a wonderful new dream.
Do you love spending time lakeside? If so, what are your favorite things to do at the lake? Does your family have a vacation house or vacation rental?
Becky Wade
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I love this story, Becky! Isn’t it just like God to replace something we thought we had to let go for something even better? Ken and I fell in love with East Texas too. What a beautiful part of this great country! And your husband’s tenacity is a real gift! I’m so excited for you!
Thank you, Deb!! “Isn’t it just like God to replace something we thought we had to let go for something even better?” YES.
We bought a lakehouse during the pandemic, too. I wanted a home with water views to hold small writing retreats and to use as my own retreat. It’s a quirky fixer-upper and we’ve been back and forth from
our home about an hour away so we can renovate and I can work with a great view all around. We are in Florida now, but we used to live near Lake of the Pines. A beautiful spot. I wish you well!
I love that you bought a lakehouse, too, Lenora! It’s exciting to work on a project you love.
I’m truly looking forward to working “with a great view all around”. There’s an office in this house that faces the water just for me!
Thanks for taking us along this venture. I look forward to updates. We never know God’s plans for us. After living in the same Alabama town for 45 years, we moved to the Austin area April 1. We’re near lake Travis and are enjoying our new life of apartment living and being close to our children and grandchild.
What a wonderful new adventure for you, Harriet! I’m sure your children and grandchild love having your near.
Love your stories, Becky, and hearing your new dreams! I’ve never been to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, but it sounds lovely. My own very happy place is Lake Michigan beaches where I spent many happy childhood summers. But my husband’s job moved us far away from lakes and green things to the beautiful mountains of Utah. (Not much green and not many lakes.) The nearest lake which we could see from our house was salty and overrun by brine flies (the Great Salt Lake). God helped me discover a “wonderful new dream,” as you say, while we lived there for twenty years. I longed to return to Lake Michigan and prayed about that, never really believing God would make a way. I’m not sure why I didn’t believe, but it seemed unlikely and nearly impossible. It’s a long story, but the ending is that we now live one block from the Lake Michigan shore. While I don’t have a view from my house like yours (beautiful, by the way), I can hear the waves and walk the beach whenever I want. So blessed!
I’ve only seen Lake Michigan from Chicago but I have friends who are very familiar with it and also LOVE its beaches. What a huge blessing to settle in the place of your heart. 🙂
How fun! I spent my childhood visiting my aunt and uncle’s lake house. Good memories. I’m sure your views are spectacular!
I adore the view! It’s so restful.
What a wonderful adventure! The pictures are breath taking! Looking forward to more as your dream comes true!
“A wonderful adventure” is a perfect way to describe this process!
Fun to read your story and how God opened a door. We didn’t have a fabulous lake view like you have but loved the 30 years Grandpa and Grandma have the Lake Gregory cabin.
You’ll have great times making memories!!!
LOVED the Lake Gregory cabin!
I love the lake! My husband’s family has a “cabin” (1950s double-wide trailer) on the prettiest lake in Washington state. It’s nothing to look at, but it provides shelter, and we can’t hurt it with our wet bodies and family time. We take our kids there for a week each summer, soak up the sun, and play with cousins. I, of course, love to catch up with family and sit in the shade reading during the downtime between. 😛
How fabulous to have access to a family spot on the prettiest lake in a beautiful part of the country! Love that!
So happy for you, Becky! I love how God works things out for our good – – He’s such a loving Father!
Will look forward to seeing pictures of the completed cabin in the fall – – what a wonderful adventure for you and your family.
Hugs, Patti Jo
“I love how God works things out for our good – – He’s such a loving Father!” YES! Amen and amen!
My In-Laws live in a lake house they bought about 5ish years ago in Richfield, NC. The lake is NEVER busy, it is wonderful. We love to kayak, swim, get on the speed boat…lots of things 🙂
What fun! Our lake is quiet, too, which is fabulous. I definitely see kayaks (and maybe a boat, too, though my husband gets motion sick) in our future. 🙂