That's all good advice. We're definitely going to be more choosy the next time. I think the next time I'd like to buy some land and build a brand new place. I'd even consider some of the newer pre-fab buildings that are delivered onsite.

What was the real estate market like when you sold the house? It was a sellers market when we bought this place. We had to compete with so many other potential buyers for every home we made an offer for in 2024. It's such a nerve-wracking process—especially when you're trying to time the selling of the old home and buying of the new home. We were extremely lucky both times we've sold (2015 and 2024). The second time our condo sold in less than 24hrs.