Best Friends Buy Upstate New York Duplex, Thrive in Unconventional Living Situation

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After both getting divorced, Sarai Saez Rogers and her best friend of over 10 years, Claire, decided to take the unconventional step of purchasing a duplex home together in upstate New York. The two women, who had previously lived together for six months when one of their husbands was deployed, found that living together as single mothers provided the support and community they were missing. Despite initial hesitation from their real estate agent, Sarai and Claire fell in love with the historic home and decided to take the plunge, splitting the costs and living in separate units. The arrangement has proven to be the "best living situation" Sarai has ever had, allowing the two women to lean on each other, support one another's relationships, and experience a level of closeness typically reserved for romantic partners.

Why it matters

Sarai and Claire's story challenges the traditional notion that the ideal living situation involves either living alone or with a romantic partner. Their arrangement highlights how close friendships can provide the same level of emotional support and community, especially for single parents navigating life's challenges. In an era where many people struggle to maintain deep friendships as adults, Sarai and Claire's story shows the immense value in prioritizing platonic relationships and building unconventional living situations around them.

The details

After both getting divorced, Sarai and Claire found themselves living with their respective parents, an arrangement neither woman was fully satisfied with after years of independent living. During frequent phone calls, the two friends discussed the possibility of buying a house together, leveraging Sarai's steady income and credit, and Claire's savings, to make the purchase a reality. On a whim, the two women visited a historic duplex in upstate New York and immediately fell in love with the property, despite their real estate agent's initial hesitation. The home, built in the 1800s, features two bedrooms upstairs and three downstairs, with a bathroom and kitchen on each floor - a perfect setup for the two friends and their children. Sarai and Claire have worked through occasional disagreements by taking space and then coming back together to communicate respectfully, finding that the conflicts have actually brought them closer together.

• In the summer of 2024, Claire visited Sarai in New York and the two decided to look at houses for sale.
• Sarai and Claire purchased the late-18th-century duplex in upstate New York.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Sarai and Claire plan to continue living in their shared duplex, navigating any potential romantic relationships with partners by maintaining separate living spaces within the home.