“Eighty-two percent of home buyers express regrets about their recent property purchase. Their most common regret: buying a home that requires too much maintenance.”
(Clever Real Estate survey)
Is fear stopping you from buying a home when you really want to own and invest in your future, instead of renting?
The answer is to address those fears, know the lifestyle you want, and weigh the risks and rewards.
The thrill of finding “the one” is hard to beat, but rushing into a purchase can lead to homebuyer remorse, which is a feeling no one wants after closing day. As a Compass Berkeley real estate agent who’s helped many clients navigate this process, I want to share some tips to ensure you feel confident and happy with your decision long after the ink dries on your contract.
The #1 way to prevent home buyer remorse: Start looking early
When home buyers wait until it’s absolutely necessary to buy a house, there is more pressure to choose a house that might not be ideal for you.
One of the biggest mistakes buyers make is waiting until the last minute to start their search. Life changes—like a new job, a growing family, or a lease ending—can make you feel like you’re on a tight timeline. But rushing can lead to settling for a home that isn’t the right fit or overpaying in a competitive market.
Your real estate agent should be happy for your home purchase process to take as long as necessary. Be in communication with your REALTOR® so they know if you are feeling more urgency. Your agent should not pressure you to choose a house that you, the buyer, do not feel good about.
Starting early gives you the luxury of time to explore different neighborhoods, understand market trends, and clearly define your needs versus wants. You’ll be in a much better position to make a calm, informed decision rather than scrambling to lock something down.
Based on my experience, and tips from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), here is a short list of important questions home buyers should investigate.
3 Key Tips For Avoiding Home Buyer Remorse
1. Define your priorities with your agent and stick to them (or refine the list, then stick to that!)
- Is new construction with a builder warranty more my style? Around the Bay Area you will find townhouses, condos, and single-family homes freshly built, often where you can pick the finishing touches. While new houses and new appliances can have problems, you won’t be encountering the dry rot, aging plumbing, and weeds that may pop up in a 100-year-old house.An in-between solution if you love the charm of an Alameda Victorian or Berkeley Craftsman architecture is to look for houses that were fully modernized — with permits, of course — by licensed, top notch contractors.But wait! If you think a totally updated house will have absolutely no problems, you might not know about Murphy’s Law. The moment you receive the keys (or keypad code) to your new home, something will go wrong. It always does. As I like to say, “Welcome to home ownership.” While you may be able to control a lot in your life, no matter how much you investigate a house, there will always be surprises. You heard it here first.
- How long will you own the home?It might not be possible to foresee reasons why your forever home may become a temporary home. However it’s worth thinking about in the case of job changes or life changes, whether you would be able to rent out your house and what future market predictions for the area where you’re looking might be. In addition to investments in fixing up a house, and making repairs, it’s worth looking at your time span to own to know you will be able to hopefully break even if not profit when it comes time to sell. I’m always happy to think about future scenarios and especially to help buyers avoid remorse.
- What are all the possible commuting scenarios you might face?BART, drive, casual carpool, ferry, Google / Apple / Genenetch bus…? Luckily in the East Bay there are numerous ways you can get to an office — or airport — in San Francisco or Silicon Valley. Before you settle on a location, it’s important to know how you will get to work. Test that commute during the week before buying. Think about if your job might change. While commuting isn’t everything, if you’re stuck with a 2 hour each-way commute you may soon feel that dreaded buyer remorse feeling.We are also lucky to have so many employers in Berkeley and all over the Bay should things change.
- Can the house be insured, and how likely will insurers continue to insure it in the future?Expensive repairs required by many insurance companies in 2025 include roofs, modernizing older wiring, replacing galvanized plumbing with newer plumbing, and foundations. However unlike buying a new car that depreciates immediately, you will be the one benefitting from the improvements you make!It’s not just the condition of the house that many Oakland and Berkeley home owners are discovering are issues. Nearby trees and foliage as well as the width and curve of streets can factor into insurance premiums and insurability.Are there flood risks? Home sellers in the Bay Area usually provide a Natural Hazard Disclosure report. It’s easy to get estimates for flood insurance so you can estimate your annual and monthly expenses.
2. Understand the financial side (and stick to your budget)
Few things cause buyer’s remorse faster than stretching your budget too far. It’s tempting to reach for your dream home, but overextending yourself financially can create stress down the road.
Before you start looking, get pre-approved for a mortgage or line up your cash to know exactly what you can afford. Remember to factor in additional costs like property taxes, HOA fees, maintenance, and insurance. Many lenders can loan based on future stock vesting such as if you are at a publicly traded tech company like Google / Facebook / Amazon. This can really increase your buying power.
If you can’t qualify for a conventional loan, there are other options such as a line of credit your brokerage might offer based on your stocks. “Non-QM” loans are another option, usually at slightly higher interest rates, from private lenders who have more custom — and in my opinion, logical — ways of looking at your assets and purchase as a loan candidate. When buying a 1-4 unit property where you’ll live, even more options from lenders are available. (Feel free to ask me for tips and lender contacts.)
A good rule of thumb: Buy a home that fits your budget comfortably so you can still enjoy your life outside of your mortgage payment, property tax, insurance payments, and even utilities.
Home ownership in the Bay Area is expensive.
However in the long run, renting is even more expensive as you can see on East Bay home appreciation over time. Still, it’s important to know that the initial home investment is the first big expense. Long-time renters might not realize how much their landlords had been paying for maintenance:
3. Don’t skip the research: Avoid remorse by fully investigating a house and location
Take time to research not only the home but also the neighborhood. Visit at different times of the day, talk to neighbors, and research schools, local amenities, and future development plans. A home might check all your boxes, but if the neighborhood doesn’t suit your lifestyle, it could lead to regret.
Ask about maintenance costs.
NAR says “Homeowners should budget 1% to 4% of the home’s value for annual maintenance costs.”
Honestly this seems pretty high to this long-time homeowner. Four percent would come out to $40,000 for a $1 million house, or about $3,500 a month. While PG&E, EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility) and Waste Management costs have gone through the roof in recent years, even with landscaping maintenance and pest control, $40K a year is pretty excessive.
That being said, it is a great idea to factor utility and maintenance costs into your monthly estimate. Especially if you’re transitioning from a rent controlled apartment into home ownership.
Check on high-use items
NAR mentions toilets and sockets as examples of items home buyers should check. Luckily in the Bay Area, most sellers provide Home Inspection reports where a certified inspector tests the most common home systems. (Somehow they always find loose toilets although I myself have never experienced a loose toilet.) Your agent should be familiar with the best InterNATCHI-certified inspectors in the area. For example, in Oakland many listing agents will use inspectors who have the best reputations.
The buyer can pay the inspector to do a walk-through and explain to you what everything in the report means. It’s like a home ownership bootcamp!
That being said it is crucial to inspect every little thing at a house, however it isn’t typical to run a load of your laundry unfortunately:
- Do the appliances turn on? (Of course you can’t run a dishwasher or laundy before you’re under contract.)
- Do the toilets flush?
- Are all of the items mentioned in the Transfer Disclosure Report present in the home?
- Are those items working?
- If it’s rained recently, are there water issues?
Invest in additional inspections and experts especially on the foundational, expensive aspects of a house. Yes, like foundations.
Overcome your fear of buying a home in 2025!
Buying a home is a big commitment, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. By starting your search early, knowing your priorities, taking the time to research and investigate, and working with a trusted advisor, you can make a confident decision that you’ll feel great about for years to come.
We are currently in a buyers’ market. Early 2025 is a great time for buyers to call the shots on properties that have not been selling.
However in competitive markets, or with popular properties that “check all the boxes,” it’s easy to feel pressured to make a quick decision or bid high with no contingencies just to “win.” While it’s important to act decisively when you find the right home, don’t let external pressures push you into a decision you’re not comfortable with. Trust your gut and focus on finding a home with offer terms that feel right for you.
A REALTOR® who is a Trusted Advisor may cost the same as a one-and-done agent
Clients can negotiate the fee they pay their buyer agent. It may be tempting to go with the cheapest option, especially if you’re a Costco-loving bargain hunter like me.
However there is a benefit to working with a true fiduciary partner who will have you on their mind and works for your happiness more than for a quick paycheck. (Agents get paid when a deal closes.)
It took me way too long to buy a house in the East Bay due to fears and because low rent was just so easy to keep renting! I missed out on a $200,000 brown shingle in the Elmwood and…well I’m sure we could both go on. (Thanks to a great REALTOR® partner, I eventually got over my fear and landed an amazing house at an incredible price in Rockridge.)
Having a real estate agent who understands your needs, communicates openly, and prioritizes your happiness is key. A good agent will guide you through the process, provide honest advice, and help you avoid common pitfalls. They’ll also help you stay focused on your long-term goals, even when emotions run high.
My goal as a buyer agent is for my clients to be happy and never regret their decision. However, because my clients make their own decisions, the best I can do is inform you and help you understand what to look for and what to ask. Being prepared to own and knowing what goes into home ownership is the first step!
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Rockridge, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley…or anywhere elase in the East Bay, let’s talk. I’m here to help you navigate the process at your own pace and find a home that truly fits your needs and lifestyle.
See testimonials from buyers I’ve helped from Richmond to Alameda to San Leandro