Back when we were house hunting in 2010, we shared a series of posts that each profiled a different house we viewed. Even though our search is long over, we wanted to revisit nine additional homes we casually toured—many during open houses—before we found the one that became ours. We had fun driving around, snapping photos, and remembering little details (“That was the one with the phone in the bathroom!” “That was the one with the family of deer in the backyard!”).
The Lake House: This modest home sat just a few blocks from where we live now. It wasn’t in our dream neighborhood, but it did have waterfront appeal. Ultimately we learned that adding a bathroom on the lower level would be prohibitively expensive, and the extremely low ceilings below were fixed—there was no realistic way to raise them. Even though it fell within our budget and offered lake access, those structural limits made it a pass for us.
Note: As with our earlier house-hunting photos, we respected the homeowners’ privacy, so the images were edited for anonymity.
The Big Ranch: We can’t resist a ranch layout, and this one had a lot of potential. A massive, dated kitchen opened to a large living room with a generous fireplace, which made it easy to envision an open, welcoming central space after renovations. The downside was a choppy remaining layout and a price tag that exceeded what we wanted to spend. It was tempting, but not the right fit.
The Gray Shaker: At first it seemed promising: it was in our preferred neighborhood and listed at a surprisingly low price. On closer inspection the exterior siding looked odd—plastic-like shaker shingles—and the interior felt fragmented, with steps down into rooms and narrow passageways that interrupted flow. The price reflected those compromises, and it didn’t give us that excited, “butterflies” feeling.
The Quirky House: This was the most unusual property we toured. The remodeled basement felt like an HGTV set, with built-in banquet seating that converted into bunk beds—perfect for sleepovers. Yet the unconventional roofline, a large stained-glass window, and a price nearly $100K above what we ultimately paid made this one impossible for us. It was memorable, though: even the street name was amusingly familiar.
The Updated House: This contemporary home was heavily renovated and very inspiring despite being outside our favorite area and significantly more expensive. Almost every space felt refreshed; the oversized fireplace in the kitchen was a standout feature. This was the house that literally had a phone in the bathroom—one of those details that sticks with you.
The Barn: Located in our dream neighborhood, this home leaned toward cute and charming, with a circular driveway, a private yard, and a deck. Upstairs rooms had peaked ceilings, adding character. It struck a balance between a blank slate and homes that need selective gutting, but quirks in the layout and a price beyond our comfort level kept it off our list.
The Garage Theater House: When we first visited, this house was painted yellow, which made it easy to miss on a return drive. The updated paint job looks great now, and it boasted one of the best backyards we saw—decking and a pergola made it an inviting outdoor space. Its most distinctive feature was a garage converted into a home theater, complete with dark walls, a projector screen, and booming surround sound; the sellers noted it could be converted back to a garage if needed. It was priced above our budget, but the curb appeal and backyard made it unsurprising that it sold.
The Pool House: In our top neighborhood but well beyond our price range, this property offered a dramatic, high-maintenance setup: a large pool surrounded by an expansive deck and siding that would eventually require replacement. We enjoyed daydreaming about summer gatherings, but the combination of cost and upkeep made it impractical for us.
The Double Staircase: This home also sat within our dream neighborhood and would have been a grand statement, with two staircases and more formal scale than we wanted. It needed updating and was priced considerably higher than our budget, leaving us wishing for a smaller, simpler version of the same layout. Still, it was fun to imagine the possibilities.
Less than two weeks after touring these houses, we followed a for-sale sign down a quiet cul-de-sac and found a property that checked many boxes: the right size, well within our budget, and in need of work—a perfect renovation project. It ended up being the easiest offer we ever wrote.
That’s how casual walks through open houses can lead to buying a home. If you’re browsing just for fun, be warned: one of those visits might be the one that changes everything.