Since 1999, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect house in a bustling city. But here’s the thing – there’s no such thing as a perfect house. Sure, you can find a house that’s pretty close to perfect, but there’s always something missing. And what makes a house perfect can change as your family grows. When you’re single, a one-bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood might be just right. But when you have a partner or kids, your needs change.
Now, as a parent raising kids in a big city, I’ve learned a lot about what makes a house perfect. And I can tell you this – nothing brings more joy than finding a great house for your family. It’s not about having a fancy car or a rare watch. It’s about finding a place that makes all your hard work feel worth it and motivates you to keep going.
When I first moved to a big city, I had big dreams but a small budget. I lived in a tiny studio apartment in Manhattan with a friend from high school. We had no space, no yard, and no privacy. But I didn’t mind because I was working all the time. At that point, the perfect house was the cheapest one I could find.
A few years later, I started dreaming of a $10 million brownstone on the Upper West Side. Owning a whole building in the city seemed like the ultimate luxury. But that dream was out of reach for all but the wealthiest people. Still, a guy can dream, right?
Fast forward twenty-five years, and my idea of the perfect house has changed again. Now, I don’t think a multi-story brownstone is the best place to raise a family. Too many stairs can be hard on aging knees and dangerous for little ones. And I don’t want to be packed in like sardines with my neighbors after paying so much for a house. Plus, I want a bigger yard for my kids to play in.
In 2003, I bought what I thought was the perfect house – a two-bedroom condo with a park view. It seemed like a steal compared to similar condos in Manhattan. It was just right for me and my girlfriend at the time.
In 2005, I thought I had found the perfect house again. This time, it was a three-bedroom house with a small backyard. We planned to use one bedroom as an office, one as a nursery, and one as our main bedroom. We had visions of our future child playing in the backyard and picking apples from the trees.
But our plans didn’t pan out. We never had kids, so we ended up with a house that was too big for us. We rented out part of it to make some extra money, but it felt like a waste. We ended up selling the house and investing the money in stocks and real estate.
After that, we downsized to a smaller, cheaper house with ocean views. We remodeled it to fit our needs, adding a third bedroom and a small office. We also built a deck, installed a hot tub, and created a luxurious master bathroom. For a while, it felt like the perfect house.
But as our family grew, our needs changed again. We wanted each child to have their own room, which meant I would no longer have an office. So, we bought another house nearby and started remodeling it too.
Now, the perfect house for us has to have both views and usable land. I love looking out at the water, but I also want a flat yard where our kids can play. But finding a house with both is rare and expensive.
The perfect house also needs to be safe for our kids. We want a yard that’s enclosed so our kids can’t run out into the street. But finding a house like that in a big city is tough.
As we get older, we’re starting to think about what the perfect house will look like in the future. We’re thinking about a ranch-style house with no stairs and plenty of space for everyone. But for now, a multi-story house works best for us.
In terms of size, we’ve found that 800 to 1,200 square feet per person is just right. Any more than that, and the house starts to feel too big. But kids need a lot of space to run around, so a large yard is a must.
One thing that’s become a must-have for us is en suite bathrooms. It’s so much more convenient and private to have a bathroom attached to each bedroom. And if you’re going to have an en suite bathroom, you might as well have a bidet. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never go back.
Location is also crucial. We want a house on a quiet street in a good neighborhood. Noise can really ruin your peace and quiet, especially after a long day. So, we’re always on the lookout for ways to reduce noise, like installing triple-pane windows or carpets.
But the most important thing about the perfect house is that it has to feel affordable. If you’re stressed about your mortgage and property taxes, your house will feel more like a burden than a blessing. So, make sure you can comfortably afford your house before you buy it.
In the end, there’s no such thing as a perfect house. But with some flexibility and patience, you can find a house that’s perfect for you and your family. And trust me, there’s no better feeling than that.
