How buying my first home turned into a wealth strategy

Buying a house is one of THE biggest investments you’ll ever make. That’s what people say all the time. But what if I told you that a buying home can be turned into a wealth strategy? Today I’ll share with you how I turned my first home into something more than just a place to live. I made it into a wealth-building machine.

Now, just to be clear before I begin, I want to say that this is not intended to be financial or legal advice. It’s simply a reflection of my personal journey. BUT, I do hope that it inspires you and helps you see the possibilities in your own life.

So let’s get into the story!

Back in 2019, I wrote a blog about buying a house as a self-employed and/or single person, as this was something I got asked about a lot. Not only that, but also I felt inspired to write that blog because at the time I couldn’t find many resources that supported the single, self-employed path to home ownership.

So I decided to become my own case study.

In 2021, I actually took my own advice and purchased my first home. And at the time I was a single, self-employed woman. That in itself was a big win for me.

At the time, I thought the home itself was the win. I thought, “whew, I made it! I’m going to live here FOREVER…“

But if you know me or have been following my journey, you know that I don’t sit still for long. I realized soon after that buying the home was just the beginning. What I did after that was what changed everything.

Three years into my home ownership journey, I shifted from “I bought a house” to “I built a wealth strategy.” I stopped thinking “this is where I’m going to live forever” and started thinking, “This is my entry point into leverage, equity, and future opportunity” 

That is, I stopped thinking like a homeowner and started thinking like an asset builder.

And that one mindset shift allowed me to make my next moves with clarity and confidence.

My primary home became my foundation. I finally had predictable housing costs. No more rent changes, moves, gaps “in-between” houses. I was able to thrive into predictable financial forecasting long term, something I’d never been able to do before.

Here’s why this made such a difference…

Since I established predictable housing costs, I knew exactly how much I had to spare each month. I knew how much I could leverage into my next level of wealth. And I did just that over the next 3 years.

Here are the 4 steps I followed to make leverage my home into the next level of wealth.

Step 1: I got a Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC) Loan

I’d been looking at buying land for years (in addition to a home). But getting the funding for a land loan can be tricky. Oftentimes, loans to purchase raw, undeveloped land (that you don’t intend to develop yourself) come with high interest rates and big down payments. So to secure land quickly and easily, I got approved for a Home Equity Line of Credit, aka a HELOC.

Getting this HELOC allowed me to purchase the land next door to my home. Not only that, but it helped me make that purchase without draining my savings. And with the land adjacent to my home, I was able to keep it as a separate investment while increasing my existing property.

Step 2: I bought an additional home with my partner.

After a few years of dating, my fiancé and I decided to buy a home together, to be closer to both of our families. It was also an intentional move for us to buy a home for us, and not just move into a home I had built for myself.

Buying a home together allowed us to combine our purchasing power. He had the cash flow, and I had the assets. He also had a full-time W2 job, which of course the banks love! So going in on this as a couple not only made getting approved a lot easier, but also it was an intentional way for us to build our assets together.

Step 3: I Converted My First Home into a Rental.

Instead of selling, I converted my first home into a rental. This meant I could generate a passive income, while allowing the property I purchased to continue building equity and without my having to foot the bill. Plus, I got to keep my first home.

This was a big shift in both thinking and strategy. It was the moment when going from home ownership to wealth building became very real.

Step 4: My partner and I purchased a 2025 Class C Recreational Vehicle (RV)

If you’ve been around her a while, you probably know that I love to travel. So having access to an RV was not only a wise move, but also was perfect for hitting the road for an adventure when we wanted to. Here’s the best part about making that move…

RVs qualify for a second home, in life and also under tax law. So there are potential tax advantage here. Plus, we can also leverage it as a rental and an income-producing property (both stationary. or on the road). So this purchase afforded us many advantages.

At the moment, our long-term strategy is to sell both homes and use that money to build outright, with the option to live in the RV giving us flexible timing. Our plans may change, but the intention is to ensure we have multiple options.

Now, these options were perfect for me. But here’s the thing…

You don’t need to go out and buy land, a second home, or an RV tomorrow. Or ever. But you can start thinking differently.

It’s not my intention to tell you exactly what to do, and to assume that my action steps are the only way. I share these steps with you to show you that no matter what, there IS a way that you can turn home ownership into a wealth strategy.

The most important step is to start thinking in a new way, and open yourself up to the possibilities that are right for YOU.

Now, considering what your goals and dreams are, here’s how to get started on your own wealth-building through home ownership journey:

Step 1: Get your financials clean and organized
Step 2: Understand your true buying power
Step 3: Think beyond your first property
Step 4: Build a 2–5 year asset plan

Because the goal isn’t just to “buy a home.” It’s to build something that supports your life, your business, and your future. This means starting to think of “expenses” as “strategies.” This alone is a game-changer.

So if you’re self-employed and the path to home ownership (and beyond) sounds exciting to you, let’s chat! I’ll help you stop guessing on what you “qualify for” and start building a real plan. I offer 1:1 strategy sessions, where we’ll map out your next move based on your numbers, your business, and your goals.

This isn’t generic advice. It’s tailored to your actual financial picture, and it’ll help you build a strategy that works for you.

Ready to make your move? Book a clarity call and let’s get started!

AND, until next time…

Love, light, and MONEY, honey…

Kaylee