They wanted more space than they had in Newtown Square. They found what they were looking for in Malvern. | How I Bought This House
During a winter-long search, Marissa Diorio and Dean Koch took their time selecting their new home.
The buyers: Marissa Diorio, 32, nurse practitioner; Dean Koch, 33, interventional radiology tech
The house: A 3,200-square-foot split-level home in Malvern with five bedrooms and 2½ baths built in 1971.
The price: Listed for $688,000; purchased for $670,000
The agent: Justin Kane, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach
The ask: When Diorio and Koch began their house-hunting journey last October, what they were most looking for was flexibility.
They were living in a townhome Koch owned in Newtown Square, and they knew that timing things right would be essential.
“Because we were using a home-equity loan, we wanted the timeline to move pretty quickly between finding a new home and selling our [old] home, so that we could avoid having that home equity loan out for too long and having to pay interest on it,” said Diorio. The couple also hoped to avoid paying two mortgages.
As for the home itself, they had a few requests. Koch wanted a garage and a backyard that was fenced-in (or could be) for the couple’s two dogs, Aspen and Elsie. Dioiro hoped for a place with some character. And they wanted something outside of an HOA.
They were also willing to be flexible.
“Because of our situation,” she said, “we needed to have an open mind.”
The search: They intentionally scheduled their search for the winter, when available housing stock would likely be limited but they would be able to search with less pressure to move quickly.
“It was through Thanksgiving and Christmas … which sounds miserable but was a really strategic time to look at houses because we had a ton of time to really consider our options,” Diorio said.
Of the five or six houses they toured, many had been sitting on the market for a while. One, in King of Prussia, had a lot of character but would’ve required more home-improvement work than they were willing to put in. Another, in Media, sat directly next to Route 1.
The appeal: The home they ultimately set their sights on had been on the market for months and its asking price had already dropped once. Located in Malvern, it sat adjacent to the turnpike, which Diorio figured had probably scared off potential buyers.
But they liked that it was a single-family home, and that it offered space. It had a backyard fence that was already partially built, and they learned they could erect a privacy fence on the property to help block the view of the highway.
It wasn’t part of an HOA, which they appreciated, and though it didn’t have a garage, there was the space to build one.
The deal: Because they were looking outside of the peak home-buying season of spring and summer, they felt comfortable moving at their own pace.
They toured the house twice, and — a month or so after first seeing it — they put in an offer of $670,000, under the asking price. They also asked for a pair of inspections — one for the house itself and another for the septic system — and the seller agreed to both.
“We’re both a little bit indecisive, so luckily we had a lot of time to think about it, and make pros and cons lists,” Diorio said. “And ultimately, with all of that, it ended up being the right choice.”
The money: Using a home-equity loan from their old home, they were able to make a down payment of around $195,000.
One of their big worries had been buying a new home and then being unable to sell their old one. But within days of closing on their new home, they closed on their old home for more than the asking price — which allowed them to avoid any further interest payments on their home equity loan.
“There is a risk-benefit with this,” said Diorio. “Some people take out a home-equity loan, buy a home, and get stuck with their old home — so they’re paying two mortgages and paying the interest on the equity loan.
“So it was a leap of faith, for sure,” she said.
The move: The couple officially moved in February. They hired movers for the big items and handled the small stuff themselves.
They were able to do some painting and aesthetic work even before officially moving in, and once the move was complete, Diorio wasted little time getting settled.
“I’m kind of impatient,” she explained, “so I had us 85% unpacked in one weekend.”
Any reservations? With the exception of some faulty outlets in the living room that will likely require an electrician, things have been drama-free.
“Because we got the home inspection, most things were as expected,” Diorio said.
Life after close: The couple is in the process of having a fence installed, and plans are in the works to build a garage, too. As the winter months wound down, they also took advantage of the home’s wood-burning stove.
Their two cats have plenty of space to roam, and they’re excited to host friends and family for the first time this spring.
In the words of Dioiro: “All positive feelings.”