My Dream Home Has a Yeti

Like many of you, I fly quite a bit.

Watching live TV at 30k feet is still a pretty magical notion – one that my kids will never understand as unusual.

Five years ago the idea was just so ridiculously awesome. Even now I think of it as space aged enhanced turbo TV at 500MPH.

The team that built this should win some ultra golden-Emmy-Nobel prize.

Perhaps it was Elon Musk? Whomever you are, you are my hero. Not because I watch TV, but because it keeps the kid behind me from beating his tray table with Transformers.

Anyway, we can all agree that low orbit live streaming transcontinental TV and internet is a cherished prize, a gift not to be abused.

However, the guy next to me on this flight is watching House Hunters.

What the hell!?!

Elon will be outraged.

The reality TV house hunting shows have glorified the “happily ever after dream home search” and people really love it. Like really, really love it.

Perhaps I’m alone here, but, I’m pretty tired of the “dream home” notion.

That’s not to say the shows are not entertaining – It’s just the premise and goal of many of them that’s irritatingly unbelievable and untrue. Pick my dream home from 3 listings? In half an hour? And how do they luck into the world’s nicest, most communicative, most informed agent?

Most people search for over 3 months, looking for ratings, reviews, amenities and problems. Pictures and videos may look nice enough to tour, but for most of us it has to pass the reality test. As in, “What’s it really like to live there?”

When I’m looking for a place to live – I want to find one that’s a good fit. There will be compromises – like – I really WANT a private solar heated rooftop swimming pool with unobstructed views of the harbor. I want to hang with Sasquatch and his cousin the Yeti and talk about technology startups – now that’s a dream home. *Your dream home may differ slightly.

In reality, my “dream home” is a place that’s a good fit for me and my family. It needs to be highly livable. It won’t be perfect in every way shape and form. Location is important, but It’s also silly to think that the neighborhood is going to be static and never change. Dream homes are just that – dreams.

In reality, 38% of us don’t like the place where we just moved. This seems like a tremendous opportunity for improvement and advancement. You can test out our new advanced livability search tool as we work on this problem.

While I don’t believe in Yeti, Sasquatch or happily ever after dream homes, 5 years ago I didn’t believe I could be watching the Royals & Mets winning in the playoffs live from a plane either.

Who knows…

Perhaps we’ll all find our dream homes someday. I’ll know mine right away – because Yeti will be hanging out on the porch with a cold six pack of locally brewed IPA.