Courtesy of Dominique Raroha.
- Dominique Raroha bought a duplex as a first-time homebuyer instead of a traditional house.
- Raroha, a 29-year-old who works in insurance, figured she could collect rent while building equity.
- She lives in one unit with her boyfriend, and her tenant's rent cuts down her own monthly expenses.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dominique Raroha, a 29-year-old working in insurance in Sicklerville, New Jersey, which is about 23 miles outside Philadelphia, who bought a duplex as her first home purchase. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.
I don't regret my decision to buy a duplex.
Honestly, it felt right. I always believe in going with a good gut feeling, and from start to finish throughout this whole process of buying it, I just had a good feeling.