FOR PEOPLE WITH A PASSION FOR REAL ESTATE AND LOVERS OF A GOOD STORY. The houses are the characters in this non-fictional record of a journey through life and a side trip into the world of Real Estate that became an obsession. Starting with a $1,000 investment, the author and her husband accumulated a multi-million dollar nest egg. Their primary purpose was not to attain wealth but to find a house that could become "home" as needs changed with the passage of time. The search for the right house became an addictive and enjoyable part of the process. Throughout the journey, affiliation to family members and bizarre occurrences directed their steps, sometimes down the wrong path. The interference of strangers had effects of tangential, life-changing importance. Realtors played a part in their success and failures. Life's tragedies are counted among its triumphs. Life's lessons are learned along the way. Reading like fiction, this purely factual account tells a story that will leave the reader assessing the passions and priorities in his/her own life. Addresses and names are disguised only to protect places and people.