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Tony Lewis, Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo (Summit Real Estate Group)

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John Meussner
Catalyst Mortgage - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

It depends.  I think if you truly love where you live, and love your home, that (for me) supersedes resale concerns and investment intentions.   I recently bought a home that was probably overpriced and oversized, but I love it every day and you can't put a pricetag on that.  My old home I could afford and was a great investment, but I didn't like living there.  I wouldn't trade buying that home first (it allowed me to get this one with a more reasonable payment), but living somewhere you don't love isn't very fun.

Jan 15, 2022 10:38 AM
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Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Every person has their own wants, desire and needs.  Having had the over improved in a nice area, a large in a great location and a small in an incredible community ... I would prefer small in an incredible area.  My needs have definitely changed with age -- just husband and I (no more kids) and the "extra yard work" for my husband (2 acres) is not a "want" anymore.  I will be more than happy with a downsize at this time. That is what would best fit our needs.

Jan 15, 2022 09:54 AM
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Peter Mohylsky,
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

My big house days are over.  Small houses suit my lifestyle now.

Jan 15, 2022 09:51 AM
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Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Overimproved for the area is always a problem . . .

Small/incredible is less house for me to clean, anyway.

Jan 15, 2022 09:34 AM
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Susan Emo
Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I currently live in a very large home in a small community but if I buy again, it will be a much smaller home that suits my new lifestyle.

Jan 15, 2022 09:27 AM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

No big houses for me. 

Define "good community" and "incredible community" 

Jan 15, 2022 09:59 AM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

It depends on what my goals are at that time.  Right now, it's not so much about size of home to me as it is amenities  - ie golf course, water view, 3 car garage etc etc.

Jan 15, 2022 10:29 AM
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Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

For clients, it depends. Some only want the best community and are comfortable with that smaller home. There are others with families priced out of their desired neighborhoods. For them finding the most house they can afford is suitable for these folks.

Jan 15, 2022 09:35 AM
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Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

We are actually in the market for a smaller home in a great community.

Jan 15, 2022 11:08 AM
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
The best agent in Southern Utah!

Smaller home with more land in a wonderful community. Which is where we currently reside!

Jan 15, 2022 10:51 AM
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Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I always chose location then the home whatever it was. You can always improve a home or your situation, but location settles the matter

Jan 15, 2022 10:34 AM
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Best neighborhood, smaller/midrange house.

Jan 15, 2022 10:33 AM
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Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

-Delete button does not work-

Jan 15, 2022 09:19 AM
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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

In rural areas, it's not "good" or "bad" communities. It's geographic. How far do you want to be from schools, hospital, Walmart and we have 20, 40 acre and more "backyards" the further you travel. Out of town is a half mile in any direction and no 100 lot subdivisions here in "Mayberry" Tony Lewis. No zip code is more exclusive to have on your Christmas card return address in small town Maine. My farm home with 300 acre "backyard" is 1.5 miles out of town,

maine farm home

maine farm soil conservation map

Jan 15, 2022 01:54 PM
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John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

You, Tony Lewis, will make the decision that suits you and your family. I would do the same if faced with such a choice. Since I am not planning any move, I can only say that a large house would not be in line with my needs. Yet, the investment value may override common sense. Yet, I could buy a smaller house and invest the extra money elsewhere. Decisions…Decisions…

Jan 15, 2022 01:34 PM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi, Tony.

    Go for the community, neighborhood, area, or part of the world that you like.  You can always enlarge or remodel a house, but you can't remodel or change a neighborhood or area of town.

Jan 15, 2022 01:08 PM
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Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker, Notary

I'm 65.  Ready to downsize and that means a smaller house.  That, would fit my needs!

Jan 15, 2022 11:46 AM
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Ray Henson
Retired - Goodyear, AZ
Retired Real Estate Agent

Given that we just downsized a few years ago, I would be wary of too small a house.  It looks like we will be right sizing soon. 😉

Jan 15, 2022 06:53 PM
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Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Small is different for different locations, and family size. My husband and I are fans of smaller homes (1500-1800 sqft) in great communities. Hard to find them in our desired area if the requirement "year built" is after 2000. :)

Jan 15, 2022 03:48 PM
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Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

You don't even have to be in real estate to have heard that the most important things are location, location, location.  

You also don't have to be in real estate to know that you don't want to have the biggest or nicest house in the neighborhood.

Jan 15, 2022 02:28 PM
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Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Good or incredible it only takes one bad neighbor to ruin either. I lean towards a big house if that's where the wants take me.

Jan 15, 2022 11:29 AM
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

One of our clients bought a small affordable in an amazing community.  Fast forward, she has sold several of the homes 3 or more times. and is the go to agent in this community.  When she was giving us a tour, she pointed out one house, saying this home put my son through law school at Harvard...etc.  A

Jan 15, 2022 11:29 AM
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Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

This last move I made, I wanted a patio home, where I no longer needed to do lawn work or shovel snow.   It had to be a ranch where everything was on one floor too.   

Jan 16, 2022 07:13 AM
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

At different stages in life size matters. When younger bigger was better. As we grew older smaller became the preference. Community mattered but location was the preference 

Jan 16, 2022 03:20 AM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

If the house is too small, it may not be enjoyable.  In the hypothetical, I would go with whichever community and house combo fit my needs.

Jan 15, 2022 08:29 PM
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Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

What is best for you may not be best for me. People are people. Our community kinda picked us and we just stayed here. 

Jan 16, 2022 03:50 PM
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Buying THE big house in any community always brings me pause, Tony.

 

I much prefer the incredible community with the small house that I can add SF if need be. You just don't want to add on too much - you definitely don't want to price yourself out of the neighborhood!

Jan 16, 2022 12:44 PM
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Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

neither.  But I'll take a small house with bigger land so I can't see any neighbors.

Jan 16, 2022 10:44 AM
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Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Depends on how close to sunset I am in my life.
The closer to sunset the less time one wants to spend toiling in the afternoon sun (in FL).

Jan 16, 2022 06:17 AM
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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

At my age, whatever suits my wants and needs. Location is always a consideration and safety is of utmost importance.

Jan 16, 2022 06:11 AM
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Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I’d buy both

Jan 16, 2022 05:17 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Neither, I prefer to live simply, modest home that suits the needs of family and business with a short commute to things we need.

Jan 16, 2022 01:07 AM
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Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

It is a balance. Location is always important to us. However, there are some things we don't want to compromise on. We built our house in 1997-1998. Some people told us we were way out there. Now we're in one of the hottest areas in the Triangle. We're convenient to almost everything. We love our community and have a house and yard that works for us. The only thing better for us would be on the water.

Jan 17, 2022 07:58 AM
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Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

Well... seems at different time we need/want  different things. The location that I need/want is my #1 priority. 

Jan 16, 2022 09:25 PM
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Location being the most important feature of real estate it would seem the smaller home in the better community would be best.

Jan 21, 2022 09:02 AM
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