Mehmet Ari Botani and Tara Zerya Botani each grew up in Turkey, the place they confronted a longstanding tradition of discrimination as kids of Kurdish descent. After they met in faculty, they bonded over a shared dream of creating a house in America.
“Rising up as a member of the Kurdish group, there was no feeling of dwelling, since you at all times should study at the least two languages and be a part of two cultures,” mentioned Mrs. Botani, 33. “Our greatest accomplishment is that we had been each capable of come to the U.S., and now we’re residents.”
The 2, who remained mates throughout faculty, moved to the US individually on work visas about eight years in the past: she, to Colorado; he, to New Jersey. However they stayed in contact and ultimately grew to become a long-distance couple.
After getting engaged in 2019, they rented in Washington, D.C., the place Mrs. Botani discovered a job at a resort and Mr. Botani purchased a pizza store with a enterprise associate. However when the pandemic hit, she misplaced her job and he needed to promote the restaurant.
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“We acquired married in April 2020, and I began a web-based IT course so I may work remotely,” Mrs. Botani mentioned. “Mehmet joined a cell rental-car service firm with one other enterprise associate, and we determined it was a superb time to have a child, since we may all be collectively.”
In 2021, with dwelling costs rising, Mrs. Botani newly pregnant and the longer term unclear, the couple bought every part, purchased an R.V. and spent months exploring their new nation. They weren’t positive the place they may land.
“We traveled to Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Boston, Toronto and Montreal within the R.V., plus we had each been in California earlier than,” Mrs. Botani mentioned. “In every single place we went, I checked out houses on Zillow, however none of them actually clicked. We didn’t see ourselves dwelling there.”
They returned to the Washington space and settled into an Airbnb in Northern Virginia for just a few months, simply as their son was about to be born. They felt snug there and liked the entry to free occasions and museums.
“There are many alternatives within the D.C. space, and there’s extra range,” Mr. Botani mentioned. “We particularly like Northern Virginia, as a result of our first condominium after we acquired married was in Arlington.”
Shortly earlier than their R.V. journey, the Botanis had consulted a lender and certified for a $550,000 dwelling mortgage. However once they returned to their dwelling search in 2023, increased rates of interest and their car funds had lowered the mortgage they had been permitted for to $470,000.
They reconnected with Loretta Grey, an agent with Lengthy & Foster Actual Property, in Outdated City Alexandria, Va., who had helped them search for houses earlier within the pandemic. “In 2021, we regarded for a rowhouse or a rental in D.C. or a townhouse in Virginia,” Ms. Grey mentioned. “However by 2023, mortgage charges and costs had been increased, so finally they wanted to decide on a rental in Virginia.”
After two years on the street, the prospect of getting a spot with two ranges and excessive ceilings was interesting. In addition they needed one thing move-in prepared, so they may concentrate on their jobs and their new son.
They thought of ready for mortgage charges to drop, however determined to forge forward with shopping for in Alexandria. “We had been involved that there could be a lot pent-up demand later that costs would go increased,” Ms. Grey mentioned. “They’ll at all times refinance or promote later.”
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