Homebuying Tips from Four Houses

So far, I’ve bought four houses. In 2015, I bought a 76 square meter house in Changsha and sold it in 2022. In 2019, I bought a second house in Shanghai, 88 square meters, and sold it in 2022. In 2023, I bought a third house in Los Angeles (2500 square feet), which I sold in August 2024. And in July 2024, I bought a 3300 square feet house in Dallas, where we currently live.

I’ll share some of my experiences in buying and choosing homes. These tips are mainly for buying in North America but might also apply in China.

Location and School District

For me, it’s a mindset: a house is a place to live, but it’s also an investment product.

I can’t guarantee I’ll live in one place for a lifetime, so when I buy a house, I consider the selling points it will have when I sell it later. Location and school districts are the key factors.

Even though school districts might not seem as emphasized in North America, the truth is everyone cares—not just Asians. If you’re buying in a heavily Asian area (like Los Angeles or Dallas), being near a top-rated school district is an undeniable advantage when selling.

Nearby amenities are also crucial, especially with kids. Educational resources go beyond schools; they include extracurricular classes and training centers. I regret that all these activities for my kids are currently on the other side of town from where we live.

Choosing Neighbors

Whether in China or the US, neighbor interactions are minimal, and relationships are usually superficial. In the US, neighbors might politely exchange greetings, say Hi, but that’s often as far as it goes. Still, having good neighbors is very important.

What makes a good neighbor? That’s hard to define, so I’ll give some counter-examples:

The neighbor’s environment is bad. Stuff is piled up all over—not on my property, but it’s still an eyesore. The neighbor’s lawn and trees are overgrown.

Their driveway is always full of cars, even spilling into mine. In the US, the street in front of your house is public, but it feels wrong when their cars sit there too long.

The neighbor throws parties late into the night. Their pets make noise without control, like a dog that won’t stop barking. When you greet them, they barely respond, showing little interest in friendship. And they’ll complain about every little thing, running over to you to grumble.

I look for neighbors by checking details.

In the US, the easiest, best detail to check is how well they maintain their lawn and trim their trees. If they care enough about the small stuff, the big stuff usually follows. I also look at their cars—not the brand, but how well they maintain them, how clean they are, and how many cars they have.

I observe during different times of day: morning, noon, and night. This way, I get a sense of the neighbor’s lifestyle, community traffic, and whether the area is peaceful.

Considering the Year Built

If there are new homes, buy new. No doubt about it. “New” means different things in different places: in Los Angeles, a house from 1989 is still considered new; in Dallas, it’s more like 2020 and later.

Everyone knows to buy new if possible, but in reality, it’s not always easy to decide.

Some older houses come with other great qualities:

1. High-quality renovations
2. Closer to schools in the same district
3. More convenient amenities

Sticking to a new home in such cases means compromising, like on renovation quality or location.

But when faced with this choice, I still lean toward new homes.

Checking the Details

In the US, every house on the market looks picture-perfect, clean, and even decorated to feel homely. But don’t be fooled by the looks.

What I love to check most during house viewings is under the kitchen sink. I’m mainly looking at two things:

1. How tidy it is If things under the sink are neatly arranged and few in number, it indicates the homeowner is meticulous and detail-oriented. If they manage this hidden spot well, the rest of the house is likely well-maintained.

2. Smell and dryness I smell for any mold. This matters a lot. The dryness and cleanliness under the sink reveal how the owner cares for the house and reflects their lifestyle.

Pricing

It’s clear: I won’t buy at the lowest price or sell at the highest. Price is very much both objective and subjective.

1. Objective Part: This requires a lot of research. Check real estate sites for recent trends and prices in the area, while also examining the house quality. Consider the location, year built, and overall condition, not just the price.

   When buying, explore nearby Open Houses to understand pricing for similar quality homes. Look at homes for sale and sold ones to get a sense of the market.

2. Subjective Part: Prices aren’t just about being high or low; it’s about feeling right at the moment of purchase—whether you feel good or feel like you’ve been duped. Sometimes, it’s not about a slight price difference, but whether you feel hustled or treated as foolish. It’s the last thing you want.

It’s All About the Feel

For a house I really like, I’ll schedule multiple viewings at different times. At a certain point, I’m not checking the house’s core features anymore but just the vibe: Does it have that home feeling?

It takes some imagination, picturing yourself living there:

1. Does the lighting, layout, and atmosphere feel warm, cozy, relaxing, especially at night?
2. Is the environment quiet, with a calm, tranquil vibe?

Sometimes, I ask the agent to wait outside just so I can sit quietly in the house by myself for a bit. I might even turn off the lights and sit in the dark to truly feel the atmosphere.

This, for me, is the last step—going with my gut.