Since 1999, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect house in a big city. What I’ve realized is that the perfect house doesn’t exist. Instead, there’s a good-enough house or an almost-perfect house, because there’s always something missing that keeps a house from being ideal.
Moreover, the concept of the perfect house evolves as your life changes. For a single person, it might be a chic one-bedroom apartment in a trendy area. For a couple, a two-bedroom with a view might fit the bill. With kids in the picture, your needs change yet again.
As a parent planning to raise children in a city, I’ve come to appreciate what makes a house truly great for a family. No other purchase, whether it’s a luxury car or an extravagant piece of art, brings as much joy as finding the right home for your loved ones. Once you find that special place, it feels like all your hard work has paid off, and it motivates you to achieve even more.
Describing the perfect city house involves several factors:
– Life stages
– Potential for renovations
– Views
– Usable outdoor space
– House size and layout, including optimal square footage per person
– Number of bathrooms, ideally en suite
– Location and ambient noise
– Overall affordability
What I Once Thought Was Perfect
In the past, I viewed the perfect city house through different lenses. In my days in Manhattan, I crammed into a tiny studio because I barely spent any waking hours at home. Later, I dreamed of owning a sprawling $10 million brownstone. Over time, I realized that such a home isn’t practical for raising a family due to the numerous stairs and lack of yard space.
The Perfect House Changes Over Time
In 2003, I bought what I then thought was perfect—a cozy condo with a balcony and park view, ideal for two. By 2005, my definition had shifted to a larger, three-bedroom house with a yard, envisioning family life with children. When children didn’t come, the space felt wasted, though we managed to rent out part of it.
Remodeling to Achieve Perfection
Owning a too-large house taught us valuable lessons. We downsized in 2014, purchasing a smaller home that we customized to our taste, adding bedrooms and outdoor living space. This remodel made the house perfect for us at the time, proving that with some creativity, you can mold your home to better meet your needs.
Growing Needs and Home Improvements
Our remodeling journey continued as we aimed to adapt our living space to our growing family’s needs, striving for a balance of great views and kid-friendly outdoor space. We learned the importance of having both a functional and safe environment for our kids to play in.
Ideal Homes for Different Family Dynamics
As our family grew, so did our preference for houses with more stories and separate living areas to accommodate work-from-home needs and provide privacy. A multi-story home helps to keep active children’s noise away from workspaces and adult relaxation areas.
The Journey Toward the Ideal Home
Ultimately, finding the perfect home is a journey that reflects your changing lifestyle and family dynamics. It’s about making strategic choices, like opting for renovations or choosing a house with the right number of stories, to create a living space that grows with you.
The Investment Aspect of Homeownership
Investing in real estate should also be a long-term strategy. Platforms like Fundrise offer opportunities to invest in diversified real estate funds, focusing on areas with promising growth and returns, aligning with broader demographic trends.
In conclusion, the quest for the perfect house is ongoing and ever-evolving. It’s about adjusting expectations, making smart renovations, and choosing properties that not only meet your current needs but also offer potential for future growth. What makes a house perfect for you will change over time, and that’s perfectly okay.
