When you’re in the thick of a home search, it’s natural to want everything at once: affordability, modern finishes, and a great location. Sounds simple, right? But as anyone who’s bought a home will tell you, finding a place that checks all three boxes can feel like chasing a unicorn.
This is especially true for first-time buyers making the leap from renting to owning. Apartments often spoil us with updated interiors and prime locations, all wrapped up in an affordable monthly rent check. When it comes time to buy, the reality sets in: the same budget doesn’t stretch nearly as far, and sticker shock is real.
That’s exactly where our client, Aaj, found himself.
Resetting Expectations
As a young professional in Dallas, Aaj was ready to put down roots and start building equity. But when we began the home search, he quickly realized his rental lifestyle (updated, affordable, and centrally located) wasn’t easily replicated in a home under $500,000 in his desired Northwest Dallas neighborhood.
So, together, we reset the expectations. Instead of searching for perfect, we aimed for realistic and right. That’s where the 85% Rule from Ninja Selling became a game-changer.
What’s the 85% Rule?
The 85% Rule is simple but powerful: ask yourself if a home meets about 85% of what you’re looking for. The truth is, the perfect home doesn’t exist—at least not at a price most of us are willing or able to pay. But if you can find a place that covers the majority of your must-haves, while the remaining 15% are things you can either live with or improve later, you’re in the sweet spot.
It’s about letting go of perfection and embracing close enough to perfect.
Putting the Rule Into Action
With Aaj, we eventually found a home that checked all the big boxes: right price, great location, updated kitchen and bathrooms, and the overall vibe he wanted. But it wasn’t flawless.
The detached garage had significant cracks in the foundation (thankfully, not connected to the house), and the gate wasn’t automatic, meaning a little extra hassle every time he came and went. Not ideal, but not deal-breakers either.
That’s the heart of the 85% Rule in action. Instead of letting those two shortcomings overshadow everything else the home offered, we weighed the trade-offs. Was this house worth saying yes to, even if it wasn’t 100%?
For Aaj, the answer became clear.
Overcoming the “What If” Fear
Of course, the nagging thought always lingers: what if something better comes along?
To tackle that, we pulled market data. We reviewed all the homes that had sold in the area over the last 30 days, comparing them to Aaj’s must-haves and budget. The verdict? This home was unique. After two months of searching, nothing else had come close.
Sometimes data tells the story we need to hear. Waiting another 30 days probably wouldn’t deliver anything better. Armed with that clarity, Aaj felt confident moving forward.
The Takeaway
Aaj’s story is one we see often: buyers chasing “perfect” and getting stuck. But the truth is, buying a home is about finding the one that fits your life today and grows with you tomorrow. When you focus on the 85% that matters most, the imperfections fade into the background.
At the end of the day, the garage cracks and manual gate weren’t deal-breakers for Aaj. He found a home that was affordable, updated, in the right location, and, most importantly, his.
Ready to Find Your 85%?
If you’re ready to put down roots in Dallas (or nearby) but perfection feels out of reach, let’s talk. At Nail & Key Real Estate Group, we’ll guide you through the search with data, market insight, and a dose of reality, so you can find a home that’s 85% (or more) perfect, and 100% right for you.
