Finding our first place in PC
Starkville, CO; not Starkville, MS
We didn’t rush into housing. After all, when you already own a house in Starkville, MS and another one in Austin that still hasn’t sold, the last thing you want is to jump too fast into a third commitment.
Through the summer, I casually scrolled Zillow, not in a hurry. Then in July, a listing caught my eye: mostly furnished, within budget, and available when we needed it. Perfect.
We filled out the application on Zillow and were approved within a day. The process was easy — Zillow handled the paperwork, background checks, and even sets up rent payments online. It gave me the idea that if we lease out the Austin house, Zillow could be just as painless on the landlord side.
When we got in touch with the landlords, we discovered some uncanny overlaps. They had also lived in Austin before moving to Park City. And later, when we finally met in person, we found out they had spent three years in Zurich — just like us. Austin and Zurich, showing up again.
Step 1: Pack life into a U-Box. Step 2: Unpack in the Wasatch.
Because the townhouse came furnished, we only had to send the basics. Our U-Box was filled with bed and bathroom linens, kitchen items, tools (we’re not giving up our DIY projects anytime soon), our clothes, and — most importantly — my extensive shoe collection.
Unloading a U-Box is like Christmas morning, except you already know what’s inside. Towels, spatulas, hammers, and way too many pairs of shoes.
The place itself has worked out even better than expected. Two master bedrooms — one on the main floor and another in the basement — plus an extra bedroom and a second living area downstairs. Translation: plenty of space for friends and family to visit (and we’re already taking reservations).
For us, this townhouse struck the right balance: stable enough to call home, but flexible enough that we’re not tied down. It’s a landing pad, not a forever house, and that feels right for this stage.
Finding our first place in Park City didn’t take luck so much as patience, a U-Box, and a little lucky coincidence on Zillow.
