Wednesday, July 9, 2008

is buying your own home on the horizon?


Last night I went and saw the Sex and the City movie. I loved it. I was a fan of the show, and despite the fact that I'd heard peeps here and there about the movie not being "very feminist," I was totally swept up by it.

One of Carrie's dilemmas at the beginning of the film is about the fact that she won't have any rights to the home she and Big are moving into together if she doesn't pony up with some money for part of the down payment. It's all glitz and glamor and pretty ridiculous to think about the many millions of dollars the penthouse suite they're considering purchasing in downtown NYC would actually cost, but I thought the very fact that Carrie's friends (mostly Miranda) are on her to make smart choices about home ownership were very progressive and smart.

This spring we published OWN IT! The Ups and Downs of Homebuying for Women Who Go It Alone, by Jennifer Musselman. I thought about this book while I was watching the movie last night, and then I got into the office this morning to find this awesome interview from the lovely women at WOW! Women on Writing.

I have a handful of single friends who own their own homes. Though it's true that the dream of owning a home is often wrapped up in fantasies of falling in love and having a family, deciding to put off the decision because you don't have those things is something that I think too many women can relate to. I love this book because, like the women from Sex and the City, Jennifer is hardly giving up on the dream of love. But in the meantime, until that happens for her, she's got security and a home she can call her own. And the coolest thing, it's not even as unobtainable a dream as it seems.

---Brooke

2 comments:

Petula said...

I hate to admit it, but I've never watched the show Sex and the City. I did go to see the movie though & thought it was fantastic! Now I have to get the DVD set of the show 'cause I'm hooked.

I bought my home as a single woman... well, as a single mom. I think it's one of the most empowering things we can do for ourselves.

Nice post. (The book sounds pretty good too!)

Rashda Khan said...

So much of living our lives, making the choices we make, is fueled by fantasy.

Aside from practical reasons,I think women should own their own homes to have their own space. A place where they can rejuvenate before and after skirmishes with the outside world.