She Got the Dream House, And Cried Every Night for a Year!

Bigger isn’t always better.

It’s easy to get swept away touring a gorgeous open-concept home, imagining how life will be better with more space.
But if you’re thinking about upsizing your home, take a minute.  Because we’ve seen too many families go from excited to exhausted, and broke.

Here are the top mistakes people make when buying a bigger house (and how to avoid the regret):

👉🏻 You can’t afford what you think you can – Your lender will approve you for more than what’s actually comfortable.  That “dream home”? It might just ruin your weekends and your wallet.
Mortgage, heating, property taxes, insurance, and surprise repairs… it adds up fast.  Being house poor isn’t a flex. It’s a trap.

👉🏻 You forgot you need furniture – That bonus room? It doesn’t come furnished.  Neither does that guest bedroom, office, or finished basement.  Couches, beds, curtains, rugs, lamps, it’s all on you.  And trust us: furnishing a big house costs more than you budgeted for.

👉🏻 You think square footage = happiness – It doesn’t.  You’ll miss things you didn’t even think to value—like your sunny backyard, your quiet cul-de-sac, or how your kids could safely walk to school.  Don’t trade your lifestyle for a layout.

👉🏻 You skipped the “vibe check” – Some big houses just feel… cold.  They look great on paper, but living in them feels like living in a furniture store.  You’ll miss the cozy fireplace, the quirky reading nook, and the energy of your current home.  More space should feel better, not emptier.

👉🏻 You didn’t think long-term – What happens in 5 years? 10?  Will this house still work for your family, or are you buying it just to impress your sister-in-law at Thanksgiving?

Here’s the truth:

Upsizing is about more than square footage.  If you chase “dream home” aesthetics and ignore what actually makes a house feel like home, you’ll feel it.  In your budget. In your stress. In your heart.

Sometimes, chasing more means losing what mattered most.

Have you ever upsized and instantly regretted it? What happened?  👇🏻 Let’s talk real stories.

– Justin