A recent Reddit thread in the r/homeowners community posed a direct question to homeowners: would you buy your current home again if you could turn back time? Hundreds of responses flooded the comment section, with many expressing deep regret over their purchase decisions.
"I wouldn't buy this home again!" one homeowner stated. "I'd go for smaller, cheaper, newer and in a safer location."
Numerous commenters said they loved their homes but still would not make the same choice. Some cited market pressure leading to rushed purchases. Others identified location, layout, or neighbor issues as decisive factors.
"No chance. Love it but I wish we would have just kept looking," one person wrote. Another added, "Ended up on a street busier than I'd like. Would have looked for a cul-de-sac or dead end."
Neighbors emerged as a significant concern. "Turns out [my neighbor] has a subwoofer in his carport and works on his car with it blasting," a homeowner reported. Another admitted buying a home next to a hoarder, learning later that previous owners had moved because of her.
Some regretted compromising on essential features. "My plan was to have this house for 5-10 years and then upgrade," a commenter said. "Now I likely never will. I wish I had got an extra 300 feet, an extra half bath, and like 6 blocks to the east."
Multiple respondents mentioned the "golden handcuffs" dilemma, where low interest rates from 2020 to 2021 make moving financially difficult even when their current home no longer suits their needs. "This was supposed to be our starter home and more and more each day it's looking like it'll be our forever home," one said.
First-time buyers acknowledged lacking knowledge during their purchase. "I also bought an okay house in a bad location," one person wrote. "So much highway noise, no sidewalks... the sun doesn't hit my roof from October to March."
Some felt agents had not been forthcoming. "I wish my agent shared their honest opinion," one commenter stated. "Mine never mentioned the negatives of any property I looked at. Everything was, 'It's a great home.'"
Despite the prevalent regret, many homeowners said they would definitely purchase their house again. "Absolutely. I love my house, and my neighbors are now some of my best friends," one wrote. Another put it simply: "This house has been good to me."
Some shared stories of careful planning. "[We] put hundreds of hours into researching the market, understanding supply and demand in our area, and timing interest rates," one person explained. "I also would not have purchased if I did not get this specific lot and model."