House Hunting 101

You only offer on the one you fall in love with.  Unfortunately, you've fallen in love with it, so if you don't get it, it really stinks. 

Big. Time.

So on you go.  Searching more.  Pretending not to hold houses to a higher standard based on the one you fell in love with.

Truth is, there is no perfect house.  It doesn't exist. 

There is a perfect home though.  That is where your family is. 

It might have a very small bathroom where you get nailed by the door while brushing teeth (like where we live now!).

It might have tile counters and no pool.

It might entail a major renovation.

When I walk through the door it will whisper in my ear "you can raise your kids here."

I pray it comes soon because I'd rather run clear across the United States than house hunt more.

House hunting is almost as heartbreaking as watching your child struggle. 

House hunting is more challenging than navigating the public education system with a kid who has needs.

House hunting is more time consuming than a full time job.

It's like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer, only to do the same thing again tomorrow.

It's a massive butt-ache from too many hours searching online at houses, comps, neighborhoods, mapping distances to work and school, school districts, and individual schools.

It's a marathon of open houses, every weekend, both days, all day, only to not remember the first two houses you saw because they were both unremarkable and first on a very long list.

It's determining that your agent doesn't know what you want and is telling you what he wants, only to find out later that he knew better than you thought, much akin to the relationship of young adults and their parents.  Jeepers, he did know what he was talking about!

House hunting is not for the faint of heart, mind, or spirit.  Much like running - doing it sucks, but in the end, it will have all been worth it.