Location vs. House: A Common Buyer Dilemma
Location vs. House: A Common Buyer Dilemma
You’ve probably been there — you walk into a house and immediately think, “This isn’t exactly what I pictured…” The layout feels awkward, there’s only one bathroom, or the kitchen is closed off when you’ve always dreamed of open concept living. But then you step outside and everything clicks. The street is charming. The neighbourhood feels right. The schools, the commute, the overall vibe — it’s exactly where you want to be.
And suddenly you’re stuck with the BIG question: do you compromise on the house and buy now, or do you wait for the one that checks every box?
This is one of the most common crossroads buyers face, and it’s far more emotional than most people expect. I recently polled my Instagram followers on this exact question, and the results were almost perfectly split. Half said they’d wait it out for the “perfect” house. The other half said location should always come first. That alone tells us something important — there is no universal right answer. But since this is the year of opinions, there is a guiding principle I often come back to when helping buyers make this decision.
The One Thing You Can’t Change
I don’t have a crystal ball, but there’s one truth that consistently holds up in real estate: you can’t change the location of a home — but you can usually change the house.
Living with one bathroom, a choppy layout, or dated finishes isn’t always ideal, but in many cases, it’s temporary. Bathrooms can be added. Walls can come down. Spaces can be reimagined over time as budgets allow. Location, on the other hand, is permanent. You can’t move a house closer to your work, into a better school zone, or onto a quieter street once you own it.
That’s why so many buyers ultimately choose to buy for the neighbourhood and grow into the home.
How the Market Impacts Your Decision
The type of market you’re buying in plays a huge role in whether waiting or compromising makes more sense. In competitive markets with low inventory, holding out for the “perfect” home can mean missing out entirely — especially if prices continue to rise. In slower or more balanced markets, patience can sometimes pay off, but even then, options are often more limited than buyers expect.
What many buyers don’t realize until they’re deep into the search is that a home that checks both the ideal location and every box on their wish list is actually pretty rare. The homes that truly have it all tend to come up less often, attract more competition, and move quickly — sometimes at a price point above what feels comfortable, even in a buyer’s market. Waiting for that perfect combination can take time, and there’s no guarantee it will appear when you need it to.
Don’t get me wrong — if waiting feels right for you, I’m here for it and happy to support that choice. But I believe that flexibility matters. In many cases, buying a home with potential in the right location ends up being the move that pays off long term, both financially and emotionally.
Compromise Doesn’t Mean Settling
Compromise often gets a bad reputation in real estate, but it doesn’t have to mean settling for something that feels wrong. More often, it’s about getting clear on your non-negotiables and being flexible on the rest. Very few homes check every box — especially in great neighbourhoods — and that’s okay.
Many buyers start with a long wish list, then realize that what matters most isn’t always the number of bathrooms or the perfect layout, but how the home fits their life. Giving up certain features can be worth it if it means landing in the right location or staying within a comfortable budget.
I truly believe that the ability to compromise strategically will take buyers further than waiting endlessly for a “unicorn” property. The perfect home isn’t always found — sometimes, it’s created.
So…what’s your move? At the end of the day, the right choice depends on your budget, timeline, lifestyle, and long-term plans. There’s no wrong answer — only the one that aligns best with your goals. If you’re stuck at this crossroads, having an honest conversation about your priorities and the realities of the current market can make all the difference. Sometimes, clarity is the most valuable thing you can buy.
