The Problem with Boston House Hunting

You tour 15 properties over 3 weekends. They all start to blur together. Was the Jamaica Plain condo the one with the updated kitchen or was that the Brookline one? Which one was close to the Orange Line? Did any of them have parking?

Relying on memory is a recipe for bad decisions. You need a system to track and compare properties objectively.

Example: Comparing 3 Boston Properties

Jamaica Plain Condo

$675K

2BR/2BA • 1,100 sq ft
32 min to downtown
School: 6/10
$350/mo HOA

Somerville Multi-Family

$825K

3BR/2BA • 1,400 sq ft
28 min to downtown
School: 7/10
Rental income: $2,200/mo

Brookline Townhouse

$950K

3BR/2.5BA • 1,600 sq ft
35 min to downtown
School: 9/10
No HOA

Which is the best fit? It depends on your priorities. That's why you need objective comparison.

What to Compare When Evaluating Properties

1. Financial Factors

Purchase price - Obvious, but make sure you're comparing apples to apples
Monthly payment - With taxes, insurance, HOA
Down payment required - Some properties need more down (condo vs single-family)
Property taxes - Vary WILDLY by town ($8K/year in Boston vs $15K in Brookline)
HOA/condo fees - $300-800/month is common
Maintenance costs - Older homes cost more

2. Location Factors

Commute time - Test during rush hour, not on Sunday afternoon
Walk score - Can you walk to groceries, coffee, restaurants?
Distance to T - 5 min walk vs 20 min makes huge difference
Parking - Off-street parking is worth $20K-40K in tight markets
Neighborhood safety - Check crime stats, not just "vibes"

3. Property Features

Size - Square footage AND layout (1,200 sq ft can feel tiny or spacious)
Bedrooms/bathrooms - Think resale: 1BA is hard to sell
Kitchen/bath updates - Budget $20K-50K to renovate if needed
Outdoor space - Yard, deck, balcony, or nothing?
Storage - Basement, attic, garage?
Laundry - In-unit vs basement vs laundromat affects quality of life

4. Future Considerations

Schools - Even if you don't have kids now, good schools = better resale
Flood risk - Will affect insurance costs and future value
Neighborhood trajectory - Up-and-coming or declining?
Resale potential - Who would buy this in 5-7 years?

How to Make the Final Decision

After comparing properties objectively, you still need to make a choice. Here's how:

Step 1: Eliminate Deal-Breakers

Remove any property that fails your must-haves:

Over budget (don't stretch—you'll regret it)
Commute too long (>45 min each way = misery)
Major structural issues found in inspection
Neighborhood doesn't feel safe

Step 2: Weight Your Priorities

Not all factors are equally important. Assign weights:

Critical (10x weight): Budget, commute, schools (if you have kids)
Important (5x weight): Size, condition, neighborhood
Nice-to-Have (1x weight): Parking, outdoor space, updates

Step 3: Calculate Your Match Score

For each property, score how well it meets each criterion (1-10), multiply by weight, total the scores.

(Or just use FindMyHome.Online, which does this automatically based on your profile.)

Step 4: Trust Your Gut (A Little)

If the data says Property A but your gut says Property B, pause. Ask yourself:

Is my gut reacting to something real (layout, light, vibe)?
Or am I just attached to superficial factors (paint color, staging)?

Data should guide you, but you have to live there. If the top-scoring property feels wrong, dig deeper into why.

Common Comparison Mistakes to Avoid

Comparing list prices instead of true costs - Always calculate monthly payment with taxes, insurance, HOA
Ignoring future resale - That quirky layout you love? Others might hate it
Overweighting cosmetic factors - Paint and flooring are cheap to change
Underweighting location - You can't change the commute or neighborhood
Forgetting about lifestyle fit - Walkable city living vs suburban car life are VERY different

Features of a Good Comparison Tool

📊 Side-by-Side View

See all properties at once, not flipping between tabs

🎯 Custom Priorities

Weight factors based on what matters to YOU

📍 Real Data

Actual commute times, school ratings, flood zones

💰 True Cost Calculation

Monthly payment with ALL costs included

📸 Photos & Notes

Attach photos from showings, save your impressions

🤝 Collaboration

Share with partner/family to make joint decisions

Ready to Compare Properties Scientifically?

FindMyHome.Online provides all these features—designed specifically for Boston Metro buyers. You get:

✅ Unlimited property tracking (with paid plans)
✅ Automatic commute calculations
✅ School ratings by address
✅ Flood zone checking
✅ Match scoring based on your priorities
✅ Side-by-side comparison dashboard
✅ Share with partner/family

Start with 3 properties free. No credit card required.

Start Comparing Properties →

Compare Boston Properties Side-by-Side