Homebuying · Your priorities, made visible

Baily’s Buying Compass

Stay on track when buying gets confusing.

Compare homes by what matters to you and what they cost.

Homebuying plan · Estimate full ownership costs · Explore local markets

1. Decide what matters before rating homes

Importance is normalized to 100% automatically. Rename categories to match your needs. A must-have is a separate minimum; bonus features cannot cancel it out.

Priority 1DescriptionImportance: 25 (25%) Must-haveMinimum rating

Priority 2DescriptionImportance: 25 (25%) Must-have

Priority 3DescriptionImportance: 15 (15%) Must-have

Priority 4DescriptionImportance: 15 (15%) Must-have

Priority 5DescriptionImportance: 20 (20%) Must-haveMinimum rating

2. Set your limits

Maximum listing price ($, optional)Maximum monthly ownership budget ($, optional)

Leaving a limit blank means it is not checked. Monthly costs should include principal and interest, taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA dues and maintenance. Use the mortgage calculator for an estimate.

3. Compare your shortlist

Use the same standards: 0 = does not meet the need, 1 = poor, 2 = partly meets, 3 = meets, 4 = exceeds, 5 = excellent fit. Unknown is not zero. Rate usable space against your needs, not simply total square feet.

Home 1Name / referenceListing price ($)Estimated closing costs ($)Immediate repairs ($)Full monthly ownership estimate ($)Usable space and layoutCommute and chosen destinationsYard and outdoor spaceBathrooms meet my needsCondition and readiness

Home 2Name / referenceListing price ($)Estimated closing costs ($)Immediate repairs ($)Full monthly ownership estimate ($)Usable space and layoutCommute and chosen destinationsYard and outdoor spaceBathrooms meet my needsCondition and readiness

4. Read the tradeoffs

Fit points per $100,000 of listing price is your main comparison. The second ratio adds closing costs and immediate repairs to the price. Down payment is part of the purchase price and is not added again.

Example A · more space

79.0 / 100

Personal fit for your selected priorities.

Fit / $100k listing price: 24.69
Price + closing + repairs: $340,000
Fit / $100k including those costs: 23.24
Monthly ownership estimate: $2,700

Passes entered checks. Blank limits are not checked.

Example B · shorter commute

74.0 / 100

Personal fit for your selected priorities.

Fit / $100k listing price: 25.96
Price + closing + repairs: $300,000
Fit / $100k including those costs: 24.67
Monthly ownership estimate: $2,450

Passes entered checks. Blank limits are not checked.

Listing-value order among eligible, fully rated homes: Example B · shorter commute → Example A · more space Equal ratios are ties; displayed order does not break a tie.

How stable is the choice?

The same home leads in all tested ±20% changes to one positive weight at a time. This does not test combined changes, uncertain ratings or costs.

How scores work and what to check next

Fit = sum of (importance × rating ÷ 5), divided by total importance, times 100. Missing positive-weight ratings produce a range using 0–5; no single score or ratio is assigned. Zero-weight optional categories do not affect fit. Unknown or unmet must-haves always block eligibility, even with zero weight.

A condition rating cannot replace an inspection. Unknown repair estimates stay unknown. Verify quotes and property facts, then revisit your ratings. Changing category counts or rating standards changes the meaning of the score; compare only within the same setup.

This is not a complete cash-to-close calculation. Use the homebuying planner to account for down payment, deposits, credits, moving costs and cash reserves. Price plus costs is not lifetime ownership cost.