How Do You Choose the Right House?

You’ve been house-hunting for a couple of months, browsing your listing alerts and open-house-hopping on weekends, and nothing has given you that spark of joy. Maybe you’re being too picky, or maybe you’re dreading packing all those boxes?

Probably not! Trust your gut. If you haven’t felt that spark, you probably haven’t found the one yet. This is your home we’re talking about. It’s a huge decision, and it should be made not only by logically checking the boxes, but by feeling joy and contentment about the place.

When Naomi and I bought our first condo in Los Angeles and learned our offer was accepted, we were over the moon. The brick exterior with charming balconies, the open layout, the updated counters, the big bedrooms… after everything we had seen, it felt impossible, and it was a dream. That’s how you should feel too.

When it’s love at first sight

The flip side: you’ve only been looking a short while, you’ve seen a couple of houses in person, and you fall head over heels for one that’s fully renovated and beautifully staged. Hold on! Your heart is full, but does the house check the right boxes?

Stop and remember the most important ones. There may be wonderful natural light but no storage, and you own a ton of books. Or the house is gorgeous, but the neighborhood gives you pause. These aren’t necessarily deal breakers, but think them through. Can you fix them easily? If not, do you love the house enough to live with them?

Head and heart

Moral of the story: don’t be all head and don’t be all heart. The best house choice takes a combination of the two.