We talk a lot about houses—square footage, countertops, open floor plans. But when it comes down to it, what really makes a home? Spoiler alert: it’s not on the listing sheet.

For my girlfriend, it’s rosemary. Every single day when she gets home, she runs her fingers across the pathway plants so she can carry the fragrance inside. To her, that’s the moment she feels at home. God forbid she cut it—the rosemary stays right where it is.

One of my clients? Her non-negotiable is the front door. And not just size—though it has to be massive—but color. It must be purple. Not lilac, not lavender, but purple. She even has the exact color code memorized: 7B14BB. That door is her signature.

And me? I go by feel. A house has to look “happy.” Don’t ask me to define it—I just know when I see it. Some homes beam, others frown. And yes, I swear you can tell the difference.

That’s the beauty of it: what makes a home is different for everyone. For some it’s a garden, for others it’s a front porch swing, and for someone else it might be that one drawer where all the mystery gadgets live.

At the end of the day, a home is where your quirks, your comforts, and your heart meet. Communities may look different, but the feeling of home is universal.