A COUPLE RENOVATED AN OLD SPANISH Apartment and Split the Cost 50/50 – ryan

Katie Passarello, A California Native, Moved to Northern Spain in 2021 on a Fulbright Scholarship.

Four Years late, she lives in a coruña with her spanish partner in their Dream apartment, which they bought and renovated together.

Passarello Told Business Insider She First Visited Spain During Her Study Abroad Program at Boston College in 2020. Though Covid-19 Cut Her Trip Short, She was Determined to Return.

Passarello Applied for the Fulbright Program and Returned to spain on the prestigious scholarship in 2021, working as a co-teacher.

Finding a partner and an apartment

A Few Months Into Her New Life in Spain, Passarello Found Herself at A Networking Mixer Where She Miguel Armas Pastor, WHO was accompanying a friend.

She didn’t think much of it unil she ento him again at a bar the following night. “I was like ok, let’s keep this whole running into each other thing alive, and make it intentional,” She Said.

Three and a half years late, they’re living together in their new apartment, planning to build a life and family together.

Passarello Lived with Friends, and Armas Pastor, A Local Design Engineer, was there Frequently. Passarello Told Bi The Couple Wanted to Take their Relationship to the Next Step, So They Moved Into Pastor’s Family Home Together.

Living Together Meant Passarello Qualified as Armas Pastor’s Legal Partner, A Status Similar to Common Law Mariage. “I have had eu residency as his partner,” she told bi.

She Said Buying an Apartment was in Part a Financial Decision Because the Mortgage Wauld be Same As they they’d Pay for Rent.

“Miguel Had Always Had A Dream of Flipping an Apartment or Renovating an Apartment,” Said.

She Also Had Some Specific Preferences: “I was hell-bent on Crown Molding-The Original Spanish Pretty Crown Molding. I Really wanted that.”

They Searched for apartments for About Eight Montis, SEEing Multiple Houses a Week. Passarello Said they were looking for South-facing with Old Charm and the Potential for an Entire Makeover.

“Miguel is a Very Level-Headed Person, An Engineer. Whene he found their apartment, he was “Very workhed up,” She Said.

She toy bi they coulud both see the potential. In 2023, They Purchased The House for 135,000 euros, or About $ 145,000 Based on the Conversion Rate at the time.

Passarello previously told bi she used Money from Savings and Her Income as a public Relations AFTER FINISHING HER FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN 2022 TO COUNTRY HALF OF DOWN PAYMENT AND RENOVATION COSTS.

The Cost Breakdown

Before Purchasing a House, Passarello Had to Dig Deep and Ask Whether they were Both “Mathe” Enough to Handle Amicably if they were to break up. “Knowing Our Personalities and How We Navigate Things was helpful to make things easier – we share a lot of values,” she told bi.

Next, They Did What Passarello Called “Budgeting” to Prepare for the Major Investment. “We were really adamant about what ours Maximum was for the down payment, and were shopping for mortgages before we had offers out,” She Said.

Passarello Said Splitting The Apartment Cost and Renovations Evently was a priority from the Beginning.

She Said the Couple Stayed Organized with detailed Spreadsheets Tracking Every Payment. For example, if she paid for a contractor at a specific cost, her partner would for the Bathroom at an equivalent price, “Balance Eaching Other Out,” She Said.

They don’t make the same income, passarello said, but they Split all the Costs evenly they have want true 50% ownership.

“We wanted to kep things as clean as Postible,” She Said, ADding that they have wanid resentment if there are any Imbalancies.

The Project Came With Struggles

Anyone Living With Their Partner Family for Any Time Knows It Can Be Trying.

Passarello Said Living With Her In-Laws Took Patience. “They are wonderful, and i love, but you have mess space, and all of a sudden, instead of having a partner, you have a Roommate,” She Said.

Passarello Said Miguel’s Parents, Who Are Also Architects, Helped with the Renovation Project. “They Cared for Like I was Their Own Kid,” she added.

Passarello Said the renovation began with a $ 60,000 Budget, with wiggle room up to $ 80,000 for Unforeseen Costs.

Mid-Retovation, The Costs Appeared in the Form of Woodworm, or “Carcoma” in Spanish. Passarello Said they had to rip outs. “I Never Want to Hear That Word Again. That Was a Big Cost, but With Our Buffer, It Ended Up Being Ok,” She Said.

They outsourced Big Demolition Work and Had a mason and a team that did Framing and the New Bathroom Installation. But Most of the Design, Planning, and Coordination was Their Idea, with “a lot from Miguel,” Passarello Said.

Enjoying Her New Home

Part of the renovation was moving the kitchen to a different part of the house. “I love cook and hosting, so has Having a kitchen open to the Dining Room is really a Big Thing for Both of us,” Passarello Said.

She Said Armas Pastor Jokes with Her Now About How Many Lunches and Dinners She’s Hosting.

She’s unure of what the Future May Hold cre to Staying in Spain or Returning to California. She said homesickness is a “Constant Ache.”

But for now, she said, she’ll be baking fold for Friends in Her Kitchen, Beneath the Spanish Crown Molding in the Home She and Miguel BUILT for Themselves.