How Do You Know You’ve Found the One? (In Love and Real Estate)

Today is officially our 16th wedding anniversary! We're celebrating by heading into Boston to see Nate Bargatze (one of our favorites!) and grabbing dinner at Grill 23. One of those rare nights we leave the North Shore and head into the city. I’m really looking forward to it.

Anniversaries tend to make me reflect, and I couldn’t help but notice how similar finding “the one” in a partner is to finding “the one” in a home. Both are big, emotional decisions that come with a mix of excitement, nerves, and a little fear of getting it wrong. Whether it's love or real estate, we all wonder the same thing—will I know for sure?

Over the years, I've found some truths that hold up in both.

Start with a solid foundation. In relationships and in houses, the cosmetics fades. What really matters are the parts you can’t easily change. In a home, it’s the layout, structure, and location. In a relationship, it’s the values, the communication, and how well you navigate life together.

Look for potential, not perfection. I’ve seen buyers fall for something shiny that doesn’t actually suit them long term. And I’ve seen people walk into an outdated house and instantly feel at home, because the essentials were right. The same is true in love. No one is perfect, and nothing ever stays the same, but if the core is strong, you grow into the life you want.

And finally, trust your gut, but a little guidance can go a long way. There will always be unknowns. That’s true whether you’re making a long-term commitment to a partner or to a house. But that’s where experience, insight, and support come in. The right people help you ask the right questions, understand what matters, and move forward with confidence.

At the end of the day, it’s about taking a calculated leap of faith and choosing to start. You build your life, you don’t just fall into it. And while nothing is ever guaranteed, with the right guidance and a good feeling in your gut, you can feel certain that you're making a good decision.

In love.
And in real estate.