Buying a new house is meant to be an exciting time. However, after the furniture is moved in and the pictures are hung, many buyers about 66%, according to a new study find themselves regretting their purchase.
Best Interest Financial and Clever Real Estate surveyed 1,000 Americans who bought homes between 2023 and 2025 about their feelings toward their recent acquisition. Amid the stress inherent in the homebuying process, the findings also reveal significant buyer’s remorse.
Experts say this is common, especially in the first six to 12 months after closing. Buying a home is the largest financial decision most people will ever make, and it can be an emotional and competitive process. Regret doesn’t always stem from the house itself, though.
“Regret does not necessarily mean someone bought the wrong house,” said Eric Bramlett, broker and owner of Bramlett Partners in Austin, Texas. “It usually means expectations did not align with reality.”
Survey Says: Most Common Homebuyer Regrets
The top regrets among recent homebuyers come down to money: 21% regretted paying too much, while 20% wish they’d negotiated more. Among other common regrets, 17% felt they rushed the buying decision, and 15% say they bought simply to be “done” with the process.
“Feeling rushed is one of the biggest drivers of regret, especially in competitive markets,” Bramlett said. “When buyers believe they have to win the house, they shift from evaluating long-term fit to chasing success in the moment.”
Only about 8% of all recent buyers say they chose the wrong home, and 12% of first-time homebuyers say the same. In fact, 76% of first-timers have regrets about their purchase, compared to 60% of repeat buyers. They were also more likely to rush their decision and ignore red flags.
Ryan Fitzgerald, a realtor and owner of Raleigh Realty in North Carolina, said repeat buyers have usually made mistakes on earlier properties and learned their lesson. They also tend to have a clearer idea of what they want or need. By contrast, first-time buyers often overlook warning signs, compromise on what they want, and go over budget all of which can lead to regret.
“First-time buyers typically cannot separate their emotions from their practical decisions,” he said.
What’s Behind the Buyer’s Remorse?
A few factors are driving remorse among homebuyers. One is information overload, given the wide array of real estate websites, TV shows, and social media influencers. According to the Better Homes and Gardens 2026 Trend Report, nearly half of homebuyers said social media shapes what they want in a home.
“Buyers are drowning in Zillow data but starving for wisdom, said John Gluch, a realtor and real estate coach at Gluch Group. “They think looking at pictures online is research, but they miss the nuances of neighborhood trajectory or structural red flags.”
Unexpected costs, such as taxes, insurance, and repairs, can also lead to regret. Fear of missing out is another factor, especially given that 32% of recent buyers still look at new real estate listings.
Experts point to the housing market in recent years as a significant cause of buyer’s remorse, too. Mortgage rates started rising sharply in 2022, just as housing inventory was hitting its lowest levels in years. About 25% of repeat buyers and 17% of first-timers said they felt pressured to buy because of the limited number of homes available.
“The market over the last few years was a pressure cooker,” Gluch said. “Low inventory forced people to waive inspections and bid $50,000 over appraisal just to get a roof over their heads. That is a breeding ground for regret.”
While housing inventory is still lower than it was a decade ago, it has made up some ground since 2022, with more than 912,000 active listings as of February 6, 2026. More available houses mean buyers will have some breathing room to inspect the property properly. However, with mortgage rates forecast to hold steady or decrease slightly, buyers will need to ensure they look for a house based on what they can afford, not what they’re approved for, to avoid future regret.
#NoRegrets: What Buyers Got Right
If 44% of survey respondents said they followed their heart when buying a home, 56% followed their head, which is exactly what experts recommend. About 64% waited until they felt sure about a property before making an offer, and 66% stayed within or under budget.
“My advice to buyers is to take the time mentally to slow down the buying process, even if the market is moving fast,” Fitzgerald said.
Making a detailed list of must-haves versus nice-to-haves before touring homes can help buyers keep their emotions in check. Matthew Martinez, a luxury broker and CEO of Diamond Real Estate Group in the San Francisco Bay Area, then urges his clients to ask themselves hard questions about the property to stay objective.
For instance, will the home’s kitchen work on a random Wednesday evening, not just on open house day? Does the location accommodate your routine and commute? Can you afford the home and have some leftover for unanticipated expenses? Does the home fit into your five-year plan?
“I make them sleep on offers, even 30 minutes, and game out the ugly what-ifs,” Martinez said. “If the worst case still feels doable, they’re probably good.”
Experts also recommend touring a property more than once before making a final purchase decision. They suggest bringing along someone who is more level-headed to help avoid an overly emotional attachment.
Gluch uses lateral thinking with his clients. This approach uses brainstorming techniques to view a decision through various angles and perspectives. He also encourages them to treat the home purchase like a business acquisition.
“The advice I give my clients is simple: Fall in love with the numbers and the lifestyle, not the backsplash,” he said.
Read more:
Most 2026 Homebuyers Expect Mortgage Rates to Fall, but What Happens If They Don’t?
What Homebuyers and Sellers Are Predicting for the 2026 Housing Market