First, let me start off by saying it’s also ok for you to NOT buy the first house that you see. But that’s not the argument in this post. Here, I am refuting the common, oft-quoted phrase, “Never buy the first house you see.”

To start, how did this become a phrase that we listen to and trust? Does this “truth” play out in every area of life? Should we never marry the first person we date? Should we never buy the first car we see? Should we never stay friends with the first friend we make? If that were true, high school sweethearts wouldn’t exist. Researching, pricing and then test driving only one car and buying it would never happen. Lifelong friends would not be a thing.

Instead of just repeating “never buy the first home you see,” we should say “never buy any house without researching it thoroughly, hiring an agent, and making sure it checks the boxes for both your needs in a house and your budget”. Ok, I admit, that’s not as catchy of a phrase so I doubt it will catch on, but here’s the truth – if you’ve done your research, know your budget, and find a house that checks all the boxes, then BUY IT. Whether or not it’s the first house or the fiftieth house, buy the one that meets all the criteria.

So, yes, it’s ok to buy the first house you see if that first house is the right house. My wife and I did that on our third purchase and guess what? We LOVE this house! It hit the boxes, had what we needed, fit in the budget, so we bought it and we would have been missed out if we followed this arbitrary rule, stepping aside to let someone else buy this home we have come to love so dearly.

So buy whatever house hits the boxes. Consult with your real estate agent, and make a wise and thoughtful decision on any house, no matter how many you have seen.

Why It’s Ok To Buy The First House You See

The First Step In Buying A Home

Are We In A Real Estate Bubble?