The last time Katherine Aydlett bought a home, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president.
But Aydlett, who bought her first home during World War II, is a homeowner again at the age of 100 after purchasing a house in Troutman North Carolina, WSOCTV reported.
Aydlett’s new town, which was incorporated in 1905, is just 18 years older than Aydlett.
Regardless, Aydlett told the outlet she is just thrilled to have a new home, as she got tired of moving around and leaving things behind.
“I’m happy to be here,” Aydlett said.
Aydlett expressed her joy and disbelief at this new milestone, stating that she is delighted to be in her lovely house and to have the opportunity to meet new people.
However, as with any transition, there will be adjustments. The presence of stairs in her home necessitates the installation of a stairlift, and Aydlett’s son, who is nearing 80, will be joining her as a housemate. She said she is delighted to have him living with her as he is an excellent cook.
Her broker, Gregory Bracht, noted how unusual it was to have a centenarian for a client.
“This is certainly a unicorn of the real estate industry,” he told the outlet. “This very rarely, if ever, happens.”
Typically it’s the property, not the buyer, that makes a transaction unusual. For example, there’s the house on top of a factory in Syracuse, New York, that recently received some new updates in hopes of finding a new owner.
The home has been a source of fascination for years, sitting on top of the former H.A. Moyer property for well more than a century.
The billboard next to the home at 1714 North Salina Street in the city’s North Side is gone. The house itself has new siding, windows and roof shingles.
The origin of the house is unclear. A popular rumor placed an elderly woman in the home before the factory was built, suggesting she wouldn’t budge unless it was preserved. More likely, it housed the motor responsible for the factory’s freight elevator and was never lived in.
— Ted Glanzer