Is it better to buy more house in a less desirable location, or less house in a better one?

The Full Answer

In a market like Pensacola, where location scarcity in desirable neighborhoods is real, I consistently advise buyers to prioritize location over size. You can renovate a smaller home. You cannot move it. The buyer who stretches slightly to be in the right neighborhood almost always looks back on that decision positively. The buyer who optimizes for square footage in a less desirable location often finds themselves wanting to move before the equity justifies it.