Is Being Flexible Harming Your Home Search?

As we approach the end of a year it feels natural to want to reflect on everything we did well over the year and take some time to celebrate our accomplishments. And while I’ve certainly been reflecting on the families who I was able to help find new homes this year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the families who are still searching. I wondered what the difference was between families who were able to find a home they loved and families who looked at homes but aren’t any closer to their new home as 2026 gets ready to roll in, than they were at the beginning of the year. I’ve noticed a surprising pattern – and it has nothing to do with interest rates, supply and demand or the raising cost of living. This sounds counter intuitive but being too flexible when searching for a home is actually holding buyers back from finding a home they love.

One of the most common pitfalls for home buyers is being too flexible with their timeline. “When we find the right house” is not a timeline, especially when it isn’t paired with a clear vision of what the right house looks like.

I’ve had home buyers tell me “We need to move before the next school year starts”, “We need to be in our new home before my maternity leave ends” and “the military will cover my moving costs within one year of my retirement date”.  They were all able to find a home within the timeline they were working with. One couple who didn’t have a timeline, were given one by their family without them even knowing it. They were told if they were in their new home before Thanksgiving, they could host the dinner. Sure enough, they were in their home in time to cook the pumpkin pies in their new kitchen.

You might be thinking that these families settled for any home just to make their timelines work. But the crazy part is that when someone gives me a date on a calendar that they want to move on, it usually comes with some tight criteria about what that home will look like or where it will be located.

Another common misconception is that being selective about which neighbourhood you want to live in will make it harder to find a home. Often the opposite is true because being clear about what you are looking for, will make you feel confident when you find it.

The family who told me earlier this year they needed to move before the school year started refused to look at homes in every neighbourhood in Fredericton, except for one.  This focus didn’t hold them back, instead it helped them act quickly when the right home became available.

I once had buyers tell me they ideally wanted to live in one of the garden homes across from the river. But it had to be one of the ones on the end, to maximize natural light and at the back of the neighbourhood away from the traffic on the main road. Only about two of these garden homes get listed every year. While we were having their home photographed so it would be ready to sell when they found their next home, one of these exact garden homes was listed. They moved into it one month later, even winning in a multiple offer situation.

Know where you want to live before you start searching for homes. By narrowing your search to the neighbourhoods and features that truly matter to your family and lifestyle, you’re not missing out – you’re actually making the process more efficient. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by endless options you can focus on what matters the most to you.

Know what your non negotiables in a home are. We all have them and even when we aren’t saying them out loud, they become obvious once we start looking at homes. Mine is a garage. One home buyer who purchased a home recently owned enough gym equipment to open a GoodLife franchise. For them the non-negotiable was the space away from the main living area to set up all this gym equipment. Creating this space in a home where it didn’t already exist, would have been costly so we didn’t look at homes that we knew wouldn’t accommodate the home gym. Another family who moved this past year needed a fenced in backyard – but the home they purchased didn’t have one, so within a week of moving in they hired someone to install a fence.  Along with knowing what your non negotiables are – know what you are willing to do for renovations in your home.

So don’t be scared to say out loud where you really want to live and what you really want your home to look like. And If you are looking for a new home in 2026 let me show you what living in the school zone you want without sacrificing the tree lined back yard or ensuite bathroom you are wishing for, looks like!