Back when we were house hunting in 2010, we published a series of posts that each profiled a different house we visited. Even though our search this time ended with The One, we thought it would be fun to revisit nine other houses we casually toured—many of them during open houses—before we found our home. We spent an afternoon driving around, taking photos, and remembering the little details that stuck with us (“That was the one with a phone in the bathroom!” “That was the one with deer in the backyard!”).
The Lake House: This modest house sat only a few blocks from our current home and, most importantly, on a lake. Waterfront property was tempting, and it was well within our budget. However, the lower level—where roughly half the square footage was located—had very low ceilings that couldn’t be changed, and adding a bathroom there would have been prohibitively expensive even with major renovations. Because of those fixed limitations, it wasn’t the right fit despite the water view and price.
Note: As we did back in 2010, we respected each home owner’s privacy when sharing these photos. Images have been altered for privacy—colors and orientations may have been adjusted and a filter added.
The Big Ranch: We’re fans of ranch-style homes, and this one had a huge kitchen joined to an equally large living room with a substantial fireplace. It was easy to imagine opening up that area and creating a warm, central living space. The kitchen and living room had great potential, but the rest of the floor plan felt choppy, and the asking price was higher than we wanted to spend. It was a good example of a home that needed work but could become something special with the right budget and vision.
The Gray Shaker: Initially promising because it was in our dream neighborhood and listed at a low price, this house quickly revealed why the price was low. The exterior featured an unusual gray siding that read a bit like plastic shaker shingles, and the interior felt segmented—steps down into rooms and narrow hallways made the flow awkward. The bones were there, but it didn’t give us that excited flutter you get when a home feels right.
The Quirky House: This was the most unusual property we toured. The finished basement had been transformed into what we jokingly called “the HGTV room”: it felt like a yacht cabin with built-in banquettes that converted into bunk beds—perfect for kids’ sleepovers. Despite the creativity, the house had a distinct roofline, a large stained glass window up front, and a price tag nearly $100K higher than the house we eventually bought. It was memorable and charming, but not the right match for our budget.
The Updated House: This contemporary home was mostly renovated and incredibly inspiring to tour. The finishes and design choices were bold—the kitchen featured a giant fireplace, which was a standout detail. It wasn’t in our preferred neighborhood and it cost considerably more than what we ultimately paid, but it was fun to see how a full renovation can transform a house. Fun fact: this one had the phone-in-the-bathroom we still laugh about.
The Barn: Located in our dream neighborhood, this house felt cute and charming with a circular driveway, private yard, and a deck. Upstairs rooms had peaked ceilings that gave the house character. It leaned toward the pricier side and had some layout quirks that made us worry about future renovations. It was a lovely property, but ultimately it exceeded our budget and didn’t quite match our practical needs.
The Garage Theater House: When we first saw it, the house was yellow, which almost made us drive past it. The new paint job looks great now. This property had one of the best backyards we saw, complete with a deck and a pergola, and an especially quirky detail: the garage had been converted into a dedicated theater room with dark walls, a massive projector screen, and very loud surround sound. The sellers noted it could be converted back to a garage easily. It was priced above our budget, but given the yard and unique features, it’s no surprise it sold quickly.
The Pool House: This house sat in our favorite neighborhood and had an amazing pool and expansive deck. As tempting as the pool was, the house was outside our price range and included several high-maintenance features—siding that will eventually need replacing and a large outdoor area that takes constant upkeep. It’s easy to dream about summers by that pool, but we reminded ourselves that higher cost plus heavy maintenance wouldn’t be the right long-term choice.
The Double Staircase: Set in our dream neighborhood, this house felt grand—almost too grand for us—with two staircases and an overall scale that seemed larger than we wanted. It required updating and was priced well above our range. Touring it was still enjoyable because it sparked ideas: we kept thinking, “If only a smaller, simpler version of this layout existed at a lower price…”
Less than two weeks after that tour, we spotted another for-sale sign and followed it down a quiet cul-de-sac. The house we found was the same size as our current home, comfortably within our budget—nearly $100K less than many of the other places we’d casually toured—and in need of a lot of love. It was exactly the kind of project we wanted, so we made the offer quickly. It turned out to be the easiest offer we ever wrote.
Our experience is a reminder that casually walking through open houses—keeping an eye on neighborhoods you love and allowing yourself to imagine possibilities—can eventually lead you to the right home. You might stumble into a property that checks most of your boxes unexpectedly, as we did. Consider this your friendly warning: stay curious, visit open houses, and take notes—you never know which tour will lead to “the one.”