Ask HN: How to decide if a house is the right fit? Is there such a thing as a "perfect" house? My wife and I are in the market to buy a house and we found a house we like however it isn't close to any shops/stores (need to drive 4 min), it's on a fairly busy road, and there isn't a sidewalk. Homeowners, how did ya'll decide if a house was "perfect"? |
That exercise of swimming in the market and walking through what can be had is what will form your evolving notion of what the perfect house (at this time, in this area, with your budget) is going to be.
Perfect for me has at various times meant the most run down shitty house in an up and coming area (good deal on price, nine months of part time renno, good profit on resale after 18 months), another time a termite foundation ridden historic wooden cottage in a port city (lots of fun propping up and digging out, built massive stone walls out front to dampen traffic noise, huge wooden gates to match the walls, replaced all the foundation beams one by one, reset the floor, added a mezzanine section), yet another time a good solid dull brick house in an optimal location wrt driving to city centre, driving out to country, easily reaching airport, easily reaching major north|south freeways.
When my son was reaching high school it was a good house in the catchment area of the only public school that had an aviation shop for students to build and fly light aircraft.
Count your blessings. Thinking very seriously of moving. Sure is a pretty location. Oh well.