
Meet The 79-Year-Old Widower Who Just Bought His Dream Home Online – Here’s How He Did It

For many people on the brink of retirement, 2020 was supposed to be an easy year. The year of transition, followed by decades of fun and relaxation with friends and family. Fred Miller, like every other person retiring at the time, thought similarly. Instead, he was hit with what was one of the biggest life sorrows – the death of his wife, Anita Farah Miller.
Being an investment banker for 50 long years can keep you away from family for long stretches. But, Fred was ready to make it all up to Anita. He’d planned for the rest of his days to be dedicated to his wife of 35 years in their suburban Detroit home.

Pexels | What more does a retired person want except for family and friends to surround him?
But fate had other things in store for him.
A Change in Plans
In the early days of the pandemic, right after stay-at-home orders were released, Fred’s wife passed away on the 1st of April, surrounded by friends and family. And with Anita gone, Fred no longer saw a need for the 3,300-square-foot home they shared. About an hour northeast of Detroit, in a small Michigan town, lied Fred’s heart: in his hometown, St. Clair.

Wikipedia | The widower had always dreamed of living next to the St. Clair River
St. Clair was always in his thoughts, even when Anita was alive. After his retirement in 2019, the couple even contemplated moving there. But, family came first, and St. Clair took a back seat – just like it had been for about 50 years after Fred moved out to go to the Air Force.
The Conundrum
The locality that Fred had his eyes on carries some of the most pricey real estates in all of St. Clair. Plus, at this point, he was a 79-year-old widower. How would he be able to land a 30-year mortgage? Evidently, this added up to quite the pickle. And his dream would definitely have not come true had he not consulted his daughter Laura Soderberg, who works for the online lender, Better Mortgage. The company has, in the 5 years of its establishment, lent about $31 billion in loans.
It wasn’t long before Fred got his pre-approval for a competitive $300,000 fixed-rate 30-year mortgage through the online lending company. With the pre-approval, there was nothing stopping him. It took no more than a month for him to close a deal on his dream home.

Pexels | After Better Mortgage made his dream seem achievable, all Fred had to do was reach out and hold on to it
Wrapping It Up
St. Clair always had Fred’s heart so it wasn’t long before he reacclimated to the community. According to him, the town’s character hadn’t changed since he was a kid. It was special to him and he felt right back at home the moment he returned. Now, Fred has big family gatherings on his new property. He even installed a fishing dock out back and often walks down to catch some fresh walleye.
More in Financial Planning
-
`
Tips For Tech Business Entrepreneurs
Running a tech business is not easy, and tech entrepreneurs may face several additional challenges when compared to traditional businesses. Whether...
October 16, 2022 -
`
How To Build A Retirement Portfolio
Many of us may not have heard about a retirement portfolio – or indeed its benefits. Just like an investment portfolio,...
September 27, 2022 -
`
Canada’s Growing eCommerce Market Continues To Thrive
If a U.S.-based e-commerce company wants to go worldwide or if any e-commerce business wants to expand in North America, Canada...
September 19, 2022 -
`
Books That Helped Millionaires Become Successful
Becoming a millionaire can seem like an impossible goal, but it’s not necessarily out of reach. The millionaire population all around...
September 14, 2022 -
`
Kelleher International: The Matchmaking Service For the Uber-Rich
Amber Kelleher is the CEO of a major international matchmaking agency responsible for countless successful marriages and a rise in the...
September 7, 2022 -
`
Elderly Care Tips For Caregivers
The initial phase in anyone’s long-term care plan is usually to provide at-home care for their aging parents. It can help...
September 4, 2022 -
`
Three Simple Ways To Improve Your Chances Of Home Loan Approval
A house is one of the biggest purchases you can make throughout your life, and if you’re in the market to...
August 30, 2022 -
`
Why Tapping Into Your Home Equity Is A Bad Idea?
It is no longer a secret that the housing market is not stable; in fact, it has never been stable. Just...
August 29, 2022 -
`
Financial Freedom Is The Gateway To Making More Money – Says A Top-Class Financial Planner
Financial freedom is something Gen Z is currently struggling with. Youngsters between the age of 18 to 25 find themselves in...
August 21, 2022
You must be logged in to post a comment Login