Then our youngest went to college… and suddenly the “someday” search got very real. We toured waterfront homes, but so many needed major work. New roofs, bulkheads, floorplans that made no sense, beautiful views with exhausting to‑do lists. So we pivoted: what about building? Waterfront land became the new obsession. We wrote offers, lost out on a few, and I’ll admit it, I got frustrated. I finally told my husband, “Look, you have to let me negotiate. This is literally what I do for a living.” (Realtor® wife, remember?) One day he shows me a lot online he’s been quietly stalking. It’s about double what we wanted to spend. Double. I drove down by myself, fully prepared to say, “Nope, too much.” But the drive was gorgeous, and when I pulled up, the view just knocked the breath out of me. It was one of those rare moments where your brain says, “Be practical,” and your heart screams, “Too late.” I called him from the shoreline and said, “We’re buying this.” No discussion.

Back home, I ran comps like a good agent. The price actually made sense. Still, we went in about 50% under asking, because why not let me do what I do best? They came back with a tiny counter… and then accepted. We just stared at each other in total disbelief. Did we really just buy this piece of heaven? And that is where the real story starts. Now the due diligence begins: soil tests, setbacks, elevation, shoreline stability, permits—all the fun, unglamorous stuff nobody shows you on Instagram. In this series, you’ll come along as my husband and I self‑build our own Eastern Shore waterfront home, every win, every mistake, and every “what were we thinking?” moment. So if you’ve ever dreamed about building on the water, or just want to watch us figure it out, follow us on our waterfront journey.