I guess Bunsen really has to determine what is non-negotiable vs what is just nice to have (and can be added or fixed).
I never had gas leak on my watch. We had an electric stove when we moved in. Until we put in gas line, I burned my fingers and pots. Never again.
midwest here. bought our house in '02. My requirements as a sahm - walking distance to park or school & space.
H’s requirements: south facing driveway for winters.
in 14 years, our house appreciation has gone up about 10% total. definitely not an investment, but its been a nice place to raise the kids. I’d like a ranch next time around.
My next place:
- two master bedrooms so I can use one for my sewing studio
- single level
- no major yard commitments
- gas stove and heat
- lots of wall space, larger windows (we have a 1966 four-level split and it can feel like a dark rabbit warren)
- walk-in closet
- accessible master bath
- close to top docs, public transit and Jewish community
DH would be happy with a 2 BR condo. I’d want 3 BR. I’d love an 1800-2000 sq ft cottage with a big front porch. Land prices here are nuts, so builders go for multi-level units on small lots. If it weren’t for the stairs I’d be fine with a townhouse – but if we move, it’s for the long haul, so stairs wouldn’t be so great.
After living in our starter home the non-negotialbles were:
Driveway
Front Hall
At least 1.5 bathrooms (We added a powder room to the starter house - such an improvement!)
At the time we were living in a neighborhood that should have been ripe for gentrification, but it never happened and hasn’t happened in the fifteen years since either. In hindsight, I think it was too close to a second tier college, and the town was concentrating of fixing up its moribund downtown. We moved to a nicer neighborhood in the same town and could be happier. Our new neighborhood is as diverse as the old one, but more white collar than blue collar and while I have no regrets getting to know the plumbers and pest control guys and the wonderful Irish grandma who shared all her plants with me, the place we live now is full of other professors, doctors and artists. The community is much more cohesive partly because of the proximity of the elementary school and partly because of a small pond that seems to require a lot of looking after. So yes location is important. I want a community that is a community. I take a walk and I’ll run into people I know every single time.
Current house came with a horrible kitchen, and it took me over 10 years to figure out what to do about it - we ended up more than doubling its size and adding a master bath, closet and laundry on the second floor. While I love having an eat-in kitchen I don’t mind eating in a dining room. It was the lack of counterspace that drove us crazy in the old kitchen.
We also added a screen porch and having lived with it for two summers now - I think it might be a non negotiable too!
Amusingly as an architect I’m not that fond of new houses. All our houses have been old (1914, 1923), love the details. You fix up the bathrooms extend the kitchens and they are perfect. Like @alh I really like having a formal dining room. Instead of opening up our kitchen to the dining room, we extend our kitchen across the back of our house and opened it up to the living room. I love the way our house flows now.
Yay, another formal dining room fan. For me, it may be more of closed kitchen than a formal dining room. I have a condo that needs a new kitchen. It’s a place I’ll be moving into when the time comes. I thought about opening up the kitchen but I think it would be visually too stimulating. If it’s messy, I probably couldn’t relax in the living room watching the mess. If it’s neat, I’ll be thinking all the good things to eat in the refrigerator served on the pretty plates. Either way, too stimulating.
We love having the washer and dryer and deep extra sink in the kitchen. It makes it easy to do the laundry when meals are being prepared and no one has to tromp outside to check on the clothes. Having two bathrooms is very helpful as well.
We were told we’d have to get our own huge propane tank if we wanted gas and figure out where to put it. We are fine without gas.
We have a two car carport – sadly H needs to clean it out because it’s 1/4 full of stuff from his folks house that is older than I am!
I’m the opposite, @Iglooo . We have an open kitchen, breakfast room, family room. It’s where we spend all,of our time. The formal LR and DR…seldom get used. We won’t have either in our next house. We will,have a great room affair, with an open large kitchen…and a nice eating area with windows!
And we will get rid of the DR and LR furniture too.
One problem I have with an open kitchen is when they open to a family room that has a TV. It gets all sorts of loud and the kitchen people don’t want to hear the movie and the movie people don’t want to hear the blender going, etc. Keep the TV in a cozy dark room somewhere off to the side and all is well!
@thumper1 I have an antique cupboard in the dining room. I’ll be gone before it goes. Our DR gets used a few times a year, Thanksgiving, xmas and birthdays. It makes the occasion more special. We use LR more in the winter making fire in the fire place and very occasionally when we entertain. I am not much of a cook. I don’t like to have people around when I am preparing something to eat.
Our fireplace is in our family room. With a large enough eating area in my new kitchen…I am sure I can make it special for the three days a year I use my DR.
Right now…my DR table is covered with my computer, etc. I know I’m not the only one who does that!
Oh, I know! Mine is covered with bills and other paper that needs to be filed. Where would they if you don’t have a DR? 
My house is 4700 square feet and doesn’t have a dining room. When we were building our house I took out the dining room and made a larger kitchen. I do have a formal dining area of my family room.
I need my gas burners for heating flour tortillas.
Forgot to add fenced in yard.
@Iglooo if there wasn’t a dining room table, I would USE my home office desk more.
But no DR table will mean less DR rubble.
My dining room opens into the family room on one end and my living room on the other. There is an opening on that end which I want to enlarge about a foot. Estimate is $2100, so I’m still mulling it over. We eat in the dining room when we have company and holidays. Right now I’m working on a jigsaw puzzle so Hanukkah/Xmas Eve dinner likely will be eaten at the island.
I use the living room for reading as it faces south west and so gets the afternoon sun. Makes me feel like I am in Florida during winter.
“Right now I’m working on a jigsaw puzzle so Hanukkah/Xmas Eve dinner likely will be eaten at the island”
Consider getting a square of plywood or something to put your puzzle on so you can move it when needed.
Or one of those roll up puzzle mats…a LOT easier to move around than plywood!
@doschicos, naw. I have no problem eating at the island.
Here’s an unacceptable one for me, no dark, closed off basement. I grew up in one of those, literally. Gotta be a daylight basement or none at all.
I can always tell when I’m in a house that doesn’t have a basement. They seem hollow to me. I must have a basement. Of course this means a lot of places I will never move to but I’m fine with that.