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One of the things I enjoy most about helping buyers is that almost every home search reaches a point where there isn’t an obvious right answer.
Yesterday, I was out showing homes with a client, and we found ourselves comparing two properties that couldn’t have been more different.
The first home was exactly what most buyers hope to find. It had been recently remodeled, the kitchen looked great, the bathrooms were updated, and you could move in tomorrow without changing a thing.
The second home needed some cosmetic work. It wasn’t a complete fixer, but the next owner would probably want to update parts of it over time. However, it sat on a quiet interior street in one of the best pockets of the neighborhood.
After looking at both homes, my client asked me something I hear pretty often:
“James, if this were your money, which one would you buy?”
It’s a great question because there isn’t one right answer.
I Usually Start with the Location
Whenever buyers ask for my opinion, I encourage them to focus on the things they can’t change.
You can remodel a kitchen whenever you want. You can update bathrooms, replace flooring, repaint walls, and sometimes even add square footage if the lot allows. On the other hand, you can’t move the home to a quieter street or closer to the places you’ll visit every week.
In my experience, buyers sometimes underestimate how much those everyday details affect how much they enjoy living in a home. After the excitement of new countertops wears off, you’re left with the neighborhood, the street, and the lifestyle surrounding the property.
Not Every “Good Location” Looks the Same
When people hear the phrase “good location,” they often assume it means being closer to the beach.
Sometimes that’s true. However, a great location can mean a lot of different things depending on the buyer.
For some people, it’s a quiet interior street where kids ride bikes after school. For others, it’s being able to walk to a park, grab coffee without getting in the car, or enjoy an easy bike ride to the beach. Ultimately, the best location is the one that supports the lifestyle you actually want to live.
That’s why I always encourage buyers to spend time in the neighborhood before writing an offer. Don’t just drive in for the showing and head home. Instead, grab lunch nearby, take a walk around the block, or visit on a Saturday afternoon. You’ll notice things that listing photos and online maps never show.
One Neighborhood I Think Gets Overlooked
One neighborhood that I think gets overlooked is Summerlane.
A lot of people pass it by because it’s farther from Downtown Huntington Beach and the lots tend to be a little smaller than you’ll find in South Huntington. However, I think people underestimate everything this neighborhood has going for it.
You’re right next to Meadowlark Golf Course, which is one of my favorite public courses in Orange County. You’re only about five minutes from Bolsa Chica State Beach and Sunset Beach, plus all the restaurants and breweries along Pacific Coast Highway.
On top of that, you’re just minutes from Bella Terra, the future Bolsa Pacific development, and Central Park. It may not have the same reputation as some of Huntington Beach’s more well-known neighborhoods, but for the price, I think Summerlane offers one of the best combinations of convenience, recreation, and lifestyle in the city.
Photo: Me about to narrowly avoid geese at Meadowlark Golf Course during a twilight round.
Sometimes the Better House Is the Right Choice
That doesn’t mean I always recommend buying the home that needs work.
If someone doesn’t have extra cash after closing, doesn’t enjoy remodeling, or simply wants to move in and enjoy the home immediately, then the updated house may absolutely be the better decision.
Ultimately, every buyer has different priorities, budgets, and timelines. That’s why I don’t believe real estate advice should be one-size-fits-all.
What My Client Realized
After we talked through both options, my client said something that really stuck with me.
Whenever we discussed the remodeled home, we kept talking about the house.
Whenever we discussed the quieter neighborhood, we started talking about what life would actually look like there.
Morning walks.
Kids riding bikes.
Neighbors out front.
A quieter evening sitting on the patio.
That’s when they realized they weren’t really choosing between two houses.
They were choosing between two different lifestyles.
My Advice
Whenever you’re buying a home, don’t just ask yourself which house you like more.
Also ask yourself which neighborhood you’ll enjoy living in five or ten years from now.
The kitchen you love today may not be your style in a decade. You can always remodel it when the time is right. However, you’ll drive the same streets, visit the same parks, and live in the same neighborhood every single day.
That’s why I encourage buyers to think beyond finishes and square footage.
After all, you’re not just buying a house.
You’re choosing where your life will happen.
Final Thoughts
I don’t think there’s a universal right answer.
Some buyers should absolutely choose the beautifully remodeled home.
Others will be much happier buying a home they can improve over time if it means living in a neighborhood they truly love.
Personally, I’d rather help someone make the right long-term decision than simply help them buy the nicest kitchen.
Because once you’ve unpacked the boxes and settled in, it’s the neighborhood, not the countertops, that usually shapes how much you enjoy living there.
