First time homeowner loses his job 15 minutes after closing on his new home: 'I turned off my camera so they wouldn't see me cry'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 25, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Life has a funny sense of humor. It will strike us down after lifting us up, over and over again, until the end of time. Like Frank Sinatra once sang, "Riding high in April, shot down in May. But I know I'm going to change my tune when I'm back on top in June." Couldn't be more true. You just have to learn how to ride the waves. It helps to be able to laugh along with it as well. Sure, it's not exactly funny that you ditched your umbrella at the last minute to save space in your bag and now you're caught in one of the worst downpours in history, but it's a little funny. Not ha ha funny, but ironic funny, the kind that Alanis Morrisette sings about. If you have a sense of levity, then nothing can get you down quite so hard. 

The universe has a cruel sense of timing, though, and you have to appreciate that. That's what happened to the man in this story who had just accomplished something major for the first time, then was in for a surprise.

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  • A man looks upset in front of a "sold" sign at a house.
    via Unsplash+ (Guillaume Issaly)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • He couldn't even catch his breath to celebrate the moment before a piece of news came down the pipe that sent everything into question. He had to appreciate the sense of irony, even if he didn't fully in the moment. Read on to see what happened to him and how commenters responded to his predicament. 

  • Closed on my first home yesterday... 15 minutes later | was laid off
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme
  • This may not be the right place, but I need to get this out. Yesterday I closed on my very first home. I was out of office for closing but my boss asked if I could meet for quick chat on my day off. Literally 15 minutes before the work call I got the official notice that the loan was funded and the deed was recorded. I was so happy, sitting there smiling on cloud nine.
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme
  • Then on the call I saw my supervisor, then her boss, and HR pop up at the same time moments later. That's when I found out my position was being eliminated and the entire department is being moved to Mexico. Just like that, the best moment of my life crashed into one of the worst.
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme
  • They insisted it wasn't performance related, explained severance (and what I need to do to get it and ways I can expedite the termination date and walk away with nothing lol) and potential internal opportunities, but I could barely process it. I turned off my camera so they wouldn't see me cry.
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme
  • Now I'm trying to balance celebrating this huge milestone with the reality that I need to job hunt immediately. I'm proud of myself, but also scared and exhausted.
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme
  • And to top it off, I can't even take that cliché "keys in front of the house" picture because there are no keys (it's keyless entry). Lowkey, there's a slot for a key but they never gave me one, so I'm headed to Lowe's for new locks. That's what YouTube is for, right? I don't even know what I need....maybe just to vent and hear from anyone else who's been blindsided like this.
    via u/soyoudecidedtotryme

  • Commenters weighed in with sympathy, advice, and more.

    Far_Pen3186 • 15h ago 2 months to evict a renter. 2 years to foreclose. Dodged a bullet, great timing
    via u/Far_Pen3186
  • Pik-A-Chew11 • 15h ago HR here, if you're in the US and you were offered severance it's negotiable. Worse they can do is say no. You have legally 21 days to negotiate and discuss as they would likely be giving you a release of claims for the severance. You can negotiate money, equipment, health
    via u/Pik--Chew11
  • etc. after you said you have 7 days to rescind, they have to wait 7 days from signature to pay you, whatever the date is. Check your state laws of payment needs to be made same day or regular payroll etc. also file for unemployment immediately and check other state benefits and programs. This
    via u/Pik--Chew11
  • is not the time for any pride. If you had FSA or HSA, use them. Don't forget about your 401k too. So sorry to hear. If they are moving offshore, they knew for months and of course your company knew since your lender required employment verification and called your HR. While not illegal, very very unethical.
    via u/Pik--Chew11
  • . Jeepers Creepers74 13h ago This is great timing, I promise! Get that severance. Brush up your resume. Buy a bunch of ramen. Download a bunch of podcasts. Head to the hardware store and buy a bunch of paint from the "returns" shelf. Every morning, wake up and spend
    via u/JeepersCreepers74
  • 2 hours on job applications. This will help you keep a routine and also, hopefully, get a job. Then use your free time, guilt-free, to start making that home yours.
    via u/JeepersCreepers74
  • ziomus90 • 15h ago Sorry bro. Hang in there.
    via u/ziomus90
  • ItsameWaluigi25 • 15h ago I am sorry. Hopefully you will get a nice severance to hold you over till you find a new job. At this point all that's left is to be strong and move on. Don't forget to apply for unemployment. Cut down on unnecessary expenses. Think logically and don't let fear cut deep. Good luck.
    via u/ItsameWaluigi25
  • Particular-Emu-93... 15h ago Apply for unemployment immediately! This will help alleviate some financial stress while you job hunt
    via u/Particular-Emu-9396
  • A "sold" sign in front of a house.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • CamplWorld • 15h ago I'm so sorry this happened to you! Hang in there, fingers crossed you find a new, better position asap. Congrats on your new home, it's a huge accomplishment!
    via u/CamplWorld
  • rainyelfwich 15h ago I'm so sorry. This must feel awful but try to celebrate your milestone anyway... You have a home, a real place that you own, it's yours. Try to lean on it as a constant and sure thing while everything else is getting shaken up. You will get another job, that's not a
    via u/rainyelfwich
  • problem - in fact that's one of the easiest things to change! A home that you own is much more significant than a job that doesn't treat you well.
    via u/rainyelfwich
  • Firefly10886 • 14h ago Same thing happened to me last month -- although my position was eliminated 2 days before I made my first mortgage payment. Hang in there we will get through this.
    via u/Firefly10886
  • jss1994 14h ago In a perfect world, you got lucky. That loan wouldn't be going thru if you were unemployed. Grind it out and keep going, you got this
    via u/jss1994
  • regassert6.15h ago Did they know you were buying a house? I know they'd say they couldn't tell you before anything was official but if they knew you were closing that day it's kind of a move to not have given you some kind of a heads up that you were getting laid off.
    via u/regassert6
  • plantkittywitchbaby • 12h ago My husband was laid off the day after we closed. It was unsettling but we continued forward and made a point to celebrate each mini milestone that followed. Things were tight and it took six months for him to find a new job but it happened and we still owned a home. This is but a paragraph in one of your chapters. You'll get through it.
    via u/plantkittywitchbaby
  • AnswerMaximum 14h ago • Go get yourself a pizza & drink of choice, snap a pic of them in your new house & post it here. We will both celebrate & commiserate with you.
    via u/AnswerMaximum
  • travelingtraveling_⚫ 14h ago Ooffff. What a horrible way to mess up with one of the best days of your life. ((Hugs)) from an internet stranger. PS, this is why we have six months of emergency funds saved up, always.
    via u/travelingtraveling_
  • ins... 15h ago Edited 13h ago . • Everything happens for a reason regardless of timing. While you're probably feeling devastated right now, keep your chin up, but be diligent. Feel wonderful for your new place. That's a major accomplishment in today's world.
    via u/KARACG
  • You said you don't even know what you need. What you actually need is some good comfort food first, time enjoying your new place (let everything else go mentally about the job situation and do you and your new home for a bit), then you need to get back to business for a job.
    via u/KARACG
  • Enjoy the unencumbered time with your new place first. Granted, easier said than done. Good things happen to good people even when you're in a tough spot. You'll be ok and you got this. It will all work out. Just be patient. When you're supposed to "get back on track" will happen when you're supposed to get back on track.
    via u/KARACG
  • If you only keep trying to change the things you can't control, you'll drive yourself crazy. Focus on things you CAN control and be smart about it. It will work out for you with patience.
    via u/KARACG

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boss antiwork workplace-stories job bosses work laid off homeowner new homeowners working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit unemployment toxic-work-environment
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