Nicole's Unpopular Real Estate Opinions

Unpopular opinion:

Not every buyer should buy the biggest home they can afford.

Actually, I'd argue most shouldn't.

For some reason, we've normalized the idea that housing budgets should be pushed to the limit. I see buyers approved for one number and immediately start shopping at that number but qualification isn't a recommendation. It's simply a maximum.

The problem with buying at your limit is that life rarely cooperates with spreadsheets.

Jobs change.

Families grow.

Unexpected expenses happen.

The buyers who sleep best at night are usually not the ones who purchased the most house. They're the ones who left themselves options.

Here's another unpopular opinion:

A home is first a place to live and second an investment.

If you treat it only as an investment, you'll often make decisions that ignore the realities of daily life.

And one more:

Sometimes the smartest move is doing nothing.

Not buying.

Not selling.

Not upgrading.

Just staying put and letting time work in your favor.

Those opinions may not sell as many transactions.

But they've helped a lot of people make better decisions.