Designer: Benjamin Brennan

Footprint: 3,170 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 0.31 Acres

From the Agent: “This contemporary home takes full advantage of the sweeping Norwalk Harbor waterscape. It was constructed in 2018 with the finest materials, taking advantage of ever-changing vistas from every room. Perfect for family gatherings or entertaining, there is a deck spanning the entire waterfront side of the house. An open floor plan on the main level flows between the living room, dining room, and kitchen. In addition, there is a family room, a spacious pantry, and a half bath. On the upper level is the primary bedroom suite, two additional bedrooms with en suite baths, and an office area that could easily be a nursery, bedroom, or gym. Four dedicated storage rooms off the garage provide space for outdoor equipment, trash/recycling, and more. The property is peaceful and private with a lovely walkway amongst native grasses and perennials leading to a lush lawn on the waterfront side.”

After remodeling a fixer I bought in 2019 between 2019–2022, I swore I would never take on another remodeling project again. I hate remodeling with a passion, even though I’m always satisfied after the project is done. The delays, cost overruns, and people management completely bum me out. If you want to save your sanity and earn a higher return, buy a fully remodeled home instead.

However, in the summer of 2025, I spearheaded a remodel of a rundown two-bedroom, two-bathroom in-law unit in Honolulu attached to my parent’s house. The in-law unit has two bathrooms, a kitchen, a washer room, and a living/dining area. Overall, I estimate the living area is about 900 square feet. The space fits three comfortably, and four so-so. The fourth person would either have to share a queen-size bed or sleep on the queen-size sofa bed.

It used to belong to my aunt, who unfortunately passed away in 2020. But she hadn’t been living there since around 2013, so it was left neglected for 12 years. During this time, the unit rotted away as it became infested with bugs, valves started breaking down, and water intrusion began eroding the window sills and interior. The unit essentially needed a gut remodel. Before this year, I had never been inside.

Initially, I estimated I would need to spend about $25,000 and 30 hours fixing it up and managing workers. However, like almost all remodeling projects, it went over budget and took longer than expected.

Why Fix Up a Two-Bedroom Unit in the First Place?

As a son who believes it is important to take care of his parents, my number one reason for fixing up the in-law unit was to provide flexibility for a caretaker. The primary caretaker would be me, and the in-law unit will serve as a place for me to stay for an extended period of time. If I’m not the primary caretaker, then a professional caretaker can live there comfortably. My dad is 79 and my mom is 77.

The in-law unit will also house our family of four for up to six weeks at a time during the summer and two weeks during the winter when we come visit. Although living in a 2/2, 900 sq ft unit is tight for our family, it’s larger than the vast majority of two-bedroom suites we would rent at a resort for $2,000+/night. Alternatively, we could rent a fully furnished 2/2 condo for between $8,000 – $12,000 a month. But then we wouldn’t be living next to my parents and helping them.

Finally, the in-law unit could house my father and mother comfortably. Given it is on the ground floor, there’s no need to walk up and down steps, which will provide better accessibility. If my parents want to move into the unit, my family of four could then move into the main house, which is more than three times larger.

Given my family or my parents will live there, I wanted to make the unit as nice as possible. At the same time, I didn’t have time to hire a general contractor or buy the nicest finishes. So instead, I was the general contractor and cobbled together all the tradespeople to get to work. Then I focused on purchasing the best of everything from Home Depot, Best Buy, and a couple furniture and drapery stores.

The Cost to Fix Up a Rundown Two-Bedroom In-Law Unit

Here’s the cost to fix up the two-bedroom in-law unit. I’m sure I’m missing something, but here’s what I’ve got:

Item and trash removal – $4,500 (includes tip)

39 years’ worth of stuff had accumulated. It took four trucks to haul everything out (beds, furniture, fridgerators, trash etc). I arranged two trash removal services to give me quotes. Both originally came in at $5,100 and $5,500, but I was able to haggle one down.

Not only did they take everything out, they also removed some of my aunt and uncle’s junk, and a steel bathtub that had been sitting in the yard for the past 39 years. It was an eyesore, but they kept it out of sentimentality—we used to raise goldfish in it. Shout out to the husband wife team at Kanai’s Junk Removal, they were awesome.

New doors and exterior wood trim – $3,000

The two entryway doors were decrepit and needed to be replaced. Termites were everywhere. I chose exterior fiberglass composite doors, instead of wood, to hopefully better weather the elements.

In addition, four interior doors were also replaced, as two of them were infested with termites. I wanted all the doors to match. Then we discovered termites had eaten the closet trim and doors, so we had those replaced. Ugh… the unanticipated problems kept popping up.

Luckily, I was able to find an incredible handyman named Vasili. He’s Belarusian and moved to Oahu in 2019 after gaining U.S. citizenship.

Vasili worked with me to get all the materials at Home Depot and dump the old doors and trim. He knew how to do everything, but I couldn’t hire him to do everything because there was so much to do in a limited amount of time. So I had to farm out the plumbing at a huge premium unfortunately.

Replaced water heater – $3,600

The old water heater was rusted and leaking. Originally, it was connected to solar panels, but that system was also leaking. So we went with an electric 50-gallon tank, new plumbing, and a new switch. Getting the hot water going was my biggest worry, so I was thrilled when the plumbing company found a solution.

Plumbing – $10,500 (paid a massive premium for immediate service)

I hired the same team who replaced the water heater to handle as much of the new plumbing as possible throughout the unit. They were extremely expensive, and I was disappointed in myself for not getting a better deal. They gave me a “20% discount” for bundling more work, but the prices were still outrageous. But I was on a time crunch and somewhat desperate.

I was willing to pay a premium to get problems fixed ASAP since my time was valuable. I was supercommuting 1 hour and 25 minutes from Laie and wanted to maximize what could get done in each visit. They were efficient—sending four guys with four vans over to work eight hours in one day—which helped me feel slightly better about paying what was likely a 100% premium over what I would’ve paid using just my handyman.

They replaced two bathroom faucets, a kitchen sink and faucet, installed two new elongated toilets, swapped out a leaking shower cartridge, installed a water valve for the refrigerator, changed all water valves, and opened up a wall to fix a leaking pipe behind the washer and dryer.

The Bonus That Made The Plumbing Cost All Worth It

Although it hurt to pay so much – probably $5,000 more because I couldn’t wait – it was nice they got everything done in one day. The biggest bonus was that they identified the source of a leak that had been dripping from my parents’ kitchen ceiling for over three years and fixed it!

My dad had hired a plumber before to solve the problem. The old plumber went up into the crawl space, said there was a hole in the roof where the vent was, and patched it. But unfortunately, the leak continued, so they just lived with the slow drip. It leaked regardless of rain, so I knew it had to be from a bathroom pipe above.

The plumbers waived their $650 “leak discovery charge,” which includes opening up sheetrock and doing tests. Thankfully, they found the leak exactly where they opened the ceiling, and replaced the faulty joint for $100.

What I do remember thinking was: I would’ve happily paid $5,000–$10,000 just to identify and fix the source after three years. My dad agreed. Small leaks can lead to massive damage over time, and often, they’re incredibly difficult to locate.

The crew also changed five water valves in my parents’ house and replaced my dad’s leaking bathroom faucet. As their son, I felt proud to have finally solved their persistent water issues. Since they eat all their meals in the kitchen two or three times a day, that slow leak had always been a source of stress and concern.

Cleaning – $255

After clearing out junk and hiring a handyman for a week’s worth of repairs, it was time to bring in cleaners. I first got a quote from an online cleaning agency for $450 for a “move-out clean” to prep the unit for new tenants. It sounded high, but I agreed and asked how much extra it would cost to clean the windows too. They quoted $300 more, and I said maybe. I went ahead and paid their 20% deposit—$90.

But when the cleaner arrived, he said he charges $30/hour and would be done in four hours. That’s it? I had expected a deep clean, maybe six hours or more, given the place hadn’t been cleaned in over a decade. Cockroaches and other bugs were everywhere.

So I called the agency back to ask for a discount. They lowered the price to $390, which I didn’t think was low enough. When I asked to cancel, they said I could—but I’d lose my $90 deposit. I chose to cancel, ate the $90 loss, and paid the cleaner $165 directly for a total of $255.

It felt good to save $140 after spending so much on plumbing, but the cleaner didn’t do a good job. He left 30 minutes earlier than promised and I couldn’t supervise because I had to pick up the kids. I ended up mopping most of the living and kitchen floors myself and wiping down the counters.

Electrical – $2,500

Electrical work was far more affordable than plumbing because my handyman did all the work. I purchased and replaced two exterior light fixtures, one sensor flood lamp, two bedroom ceiling lights, two living/dining room fixtures, two bathroom fixtures, and one washer room light. I also had Vasili replace all the plates and outlets to freshen up the look. All bathroom and kitchen outlets were upgraded to GFCI for safety in case of water exposure.

We also upgraded two entryway light fixtures at my parents’ house. One had burned out, and when I asked my dad why he hadn’t just replaced the bulb, he said the lid was fused shut. So after 39 years, it felt amazing to finally have bright, fully functioning lights at the entrance.

In addition, I replaced a cracked light fixture in one bedroom and installed dimmer switches in both bedrooms. A few small upgrades can really modernize a place and make it more functional.

New washer and dryer – $1,600 (on sale from $2,000)

We got two LG units during a 4th of July sale at Best Buy. They are beauties! Unfortunately, they won’t arrive until mid-September.

New refrigerator – $800 (on sale from $1,000)

We upgraded to a 32-inch LG fridge. If I had hauled the old one away through Best Buy, I would’ve gotten a $250 rebate for energy efficiency. Who knew? Oh well.

My dad will have to manage the delivery and install in September. He’ll need to confirm the water line works and there are no leaks or vent issues. So long as the washer, dryer, and fridge are properly hooked up and test, everything should be good!

New living and dining room furniture – $4,200

We bought a queen sofa bed, side tables, rug, round dining table, and four chairs. The living room furniture was delivered before we left; dining stuff will arrive in mid-September. We could have spent $2,000 more dollars for an even fancier sofa bed, but this one was fantastic.

Everything we are getting is much nicer than what was there, and all the furniture in my parent’s house. They will be pleased. I even bought a new recliner, nicer than the one my dad uses now.

Two new mattresses (Cal King + Queen) – $1,800

We got Serta mattresses and two metal frames from Amazon. My wife ended up building the two metal frames, go her! My wife and daughter share the Cal King, my son has the Queen, and I sleep on the sofa bed.

After a life-time of saving, investing, and working diligently, getting to sleep on a sofa bed in the living room is a good way to keep things real.

New curtains/blinds – $2,700

We bought three blackout curtains from Wong & Co. and had them remove the old hardware and install new ones. We could’ve spent $4,500 for custom designs, but we found ready-made options that fit. Eventually, we may have to spend another $3,500 to replace four more old blinds.

New flooring – $3,000

Both bedrooms had old, stained carpet. We replaced it with Lifeplank vinyl from Home Depot. One room had an uneven floor, so we had to apply self-leveling compound first. We also changed the baseboards and caulked everything.

Besides new windows, new flooring provides the best bang for the buck in my opinion. Paying so much for the three new curtains didn’t feel good, but the old ones were disintegrating.

Three new AC units – $780 + $1,000 in labor

The in-law unit originally had only one AC unit installed in a west-facing bedroom. I was pleased to find that the 8,000 BTU units from Toshiba cost just $260 after tax. So we had that one replaced ASAP. Our handyman picked up the unit, bought wood for support, and installed it like a charm. For about five hours of work, the total cost came out to around $550 for the new unit and installation.

We decided to install another AC unit on the cooler east side for another $550. Then, a week later, we decided to install a third unit in the living area. We originally bought a 12,000 BTU unit—50% larger—but had to return it because it required too much electricity. That probably cost me an extra $100, since our handyman had to go back to Home Depot and pick up a more appropriate one.

I had told him I was concerned about three AC units drawing too much power and tripping the circuits, but he didn’t think it would be an issue. This ended up being one of many unexpected variables that cost more time and money.

We didn’t discover the issue until we started changing out all the electrical sockets. Thankfully, after installing the correct unit, we tested all three AC units by running them all concurrently for two hours—and no circuits tripped. We’ll do our best to use fans when we can.

The alternative to getting individual AC units was to install an inverter AC system for $10,000 – $15,000. That option was far too expensive compared to the $1,720 solution we came up with.

Painting – $420 in paint and supplies, plus free labor

I like to work, and I like to paint. So I took on the project of painting the entire unit myself—including all the baseboards, doors, and walls. I’ve spent 25 hours painting so far, and probably need about three more hours to finish everything. I had to pause because our handyman was mudding the window sills in the living room.

I could’ve hired our handyman to do the painting, but that would’ve meant pulling him away from the many other tasks he was working on. Now that I think about it, I probably only saved around $1,600 by doing the painting myself instead of having my handyman do it. I could have used that time to write on Financial Samurai.

However, if I had hired professional painters, they would have easily charged $600–$900 per room, which means I actually saved more like $3,600–$5,400. Charging $5,000+ to paint a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo is in the ballpark.

Fixed Old Window Ledges – $1,000

We removed the deteriorated window ledges on three windows and replaced them with a plastic alternative. Then we mudded, waited for it to dry, sanded, mudded again, waited, sanded again, and finally painted. Over time, water intrusion from the slat windows had caused the ledges to crumble. If someone had been living in the unit, it would’ve been easy to wipe away moisture after each storm.

Decorations, Sheets, Pillows, Bedding, Trashcans, Bedside Tables, Power strips – $900

Of course, no remodel is complete without the essentials. I test-drove staying in one of the bedrooms on a Friday night just so I could see what was missing. It became apparent to me quickly that we needed to buy bedside tables, trashcans, powerstrips, and more. So off we went to Target again (went five times) to get everything. One thing we also need to do is get a couple non-electronic bidets.

You can spend as little or as much as you want on decorations. We wanted to go the minimalist route with the least amount of clutter. We also bought a bunch of plastic Tupperware to store my Aunt’s things, instead of leaving them in cardboard boxes for the silverfish to eat.

General Contracting – A Free $15,000

I spent about 30 hours sourcing sub-contractors, managing the work, reviewing the results, and securing competitive bids. I suspect a general contractor would have charged $15,000 for the same effort. None of this would have ever gotten done if I hadn’t stepped in to get the ball rolling.

Although getting screamed at for letting the washer sink overflow was extremely unpleasant, it gave me the motivation to finish the job. I didn’t want to feel that same type of emotional pain I felt as a kid again, so I became highly motivated to remodel the place for ourselves. At the same time, since I always think in two timelines, I wanted the unit to feel great for my parents too, if they ever choose to move in.

So whenever you’re in pain or are afraid, use it as a motivator to create or change something. Fear and the pain of financial loss in 2009 pushed me to start Financial Samurai in July of that year. And this time, the fear of experiencing more emotional pain the next time I return to my childhood home drove me to work 50 hours during our five-week visit to Hawaii.

Final Cost Summary To Remodel A Two-Bedroom In-Law Unit

• Initial budget: $25,000 and 20 hours
• Actual spend: $40,685 and 50 hours
• Over budget: +$15,685 (63%)
• Over time: +150%

If I include the value of my labor and painting, the total cost jumps to $58,000–$60,000. And sadly, if we had fully remodeled the two bathrooms and the kitchen—instead of just replacing the fixtures—it probably would have cost an additional $25,000.

Thankfully, my parents insisted on paying for all the plumbing work and then cut me a $19,000 check equal to the annual gift tax limit after seeing how hard I worked. Therefore, I paid about $6,625 and worked 50 hours for free.

I was happy to keep footing the bill, but my mom insisted. That said, I honestly don’t know how much money my parents have to be able to afford spending this much on a renovation. They’ll always be financially OK because they have me.

At the end of the day, we’re co-owners of the property, so the money is all within the family.

Please Don’t Make Me Remodel Again

When we return, I’m hoping the dining room furniture, refrigerator, and washer and dryer will all have been delivered and properly installed. All my dad has to do is let the delivery teams in and ensure everything is new and in working condition. The appliances need to be tested before the installers leave. If all goes well, we’ll come back to a fully functioning unit—which would be incredible.

I estimate the value of each night’s stay at about $500. That means we’d need to stay for 81 nights to break even. However, that breakeven point could come sooner if my sister and her boyfriend visit as well. And once we move back permanently, the cost will be recouped quickly—and then some.

After going through this latest remodel, I never want to do it again. After taking initiative and working hard, we can now enjoy the benefits for years to come. I see the in-law unit as an insurance policy for a better life, which feels great.

Back in 1986, my grandfather had a vision of building a family compound to house multiple generations—a common setup in Honolulu. For various family reasons, things didn’t unfold as he’d hoped. But now, his vision is back on track. And for that, I am hopeful for a better future.

Readers, I’d love to hear about your latest remodeling projects. How did they go—did you manage to stay on budget? Do you dread remodeling as much as I do? Does spending $40,000–$60,000 to renovate a 2-bed, 2-bath in-law unit sound reasonable to you? And do you ever struggle with the need to be productive, even while on vacation?

Invest In Real Estate Passively

All this work reminded me why I no longer want to buy physical rental properties to manage and renovate. It’s just too much of a pain now that I’m in my late 40s. If you can, try to tackle all your remodeling projects before your energy and patience run out. I’m guessing that’s by age 50.

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I’ve personally invested over $400,000 with Fundrise and Fundrise is a long-time sponsor of Financial Samurai. The investment minimum is only $10, so it’s easy for everybody to dollar-cost average in and build exposure. 

To expedite your journey to financial freedom, join over 60,000 others and subscribe to the free Financial Samurai newsletter. Financial Samurai is among the largest independently-owned personal finance websites, established in 2009. Everything is written based on firsthand experience and expertise.

The value of owning a big, beautiful home is underappreciated. Somewhere along the way, society began favoring minimalism and smaller living spaces, often dismissing larger homes as “McMansions.” But after spending five weeks living in a much smaller space again, I’ve gained a renewed appreciation for the comfort, privacy, and functionality that a larger home provides.

One of the unexpected “downsides” of going on a family vacation is realizing how hard it is to match the comfort of your own home. I think this rings true for most families.

You might live in an 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with your family of four. But on vacation, you often end up squeezing into a hotel room or a one-bedroom suite with a sofa bed. Vacation lodging has gotten so expensive! Renting a place that matches the size and quality of your own home is simply out of reach for many.

After 26 nights at my parents’ place and nine nights at my aunt and uncle’s ~1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home, I can say with certainty: I truly love owning and living in a bigger home. And, I’m not afraid to admit it!

Definition Of A Big Home

In 1981, the median size of a newly purchased home was about 1,700 square feet. By 1993, that number had grown to 2,000 square feet. This size increase was driven by the rise of suburban living and the growing demand for more space and modern amenities for families.

Throughout the 2000s, the average home size hovered between 1,920 and 1,940 square feet. When the first-time homebuyer tax credit was introduced to stimulate demand, the median size temporarily dipped to around 1,850 square feet before climbing back to 2,000 square feet between 2010 and 2015.

By the early 2020s, home sizes surged again, reaching between 2,200 and 2,300 square feet. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median size of a completed single-family home in 2023 was 2,233 square feet. Today, the average home size remains around 2,200 square feet.

Now that we know the median home size in America, we can better define what qualifies as a “big” home. In my view, a big home is one that’s at least 50% larger than the median—meaning it has at least 3,100 square feet of living space. You can localize the number using the figures based on where you live too.

A Big Home Over a Small One—Especially With Kids

A small home (50% smaller than median or more) is perfectly fine if you don’t have kids. I shared a studio with my high school friend and lived in a one-bedroom condo with my wife for years. But once you have kids, you’ll want as large of a home—and lot—as you can comfortably afford. Otherwise, you might go crazy.

One night at my aunt and uncle’s house on the North Shore of Oahu really drove this point home. It was a particularly windy night. I slept on a twin-size sofa bed in the living room, while my wife slept with our daughter and our son had his own room.

At 12:30 a.m., our daughter screamed out in her sleep, waking us up. Then at 1:30 a.m., a plastic cup flew off the kitchen counter. At 2 a.m., a mysterious thunk! Our son had fallen out of his bed (I didn’t realize it until later). Then another scream at 2:30 a.m. And finally, just before dawn, something flew off my wife and daughter’s bedside table, waking all three of us.

Getting woken up five times in one night will drive anyone a little nuts. I was dragging all day on the Fourth of July. If we had a larger home, we might have only woken up once or twice.

And the last time I slept on a sofa bed was in college in 1998. But with my son sleeping like a tornado, sharing a queen bed would’ve meant zero rest for both of us given I snore.

More Space, More Happiness

If possible, aim to buy a home with at least one bedroom per person. And if each bedroom can have its own en suite bathroom, even better. This setup dramatically improves everyone’s ability to sleep soundly and function well the next day.

With a big home, sound insulation and space make a huge difference. Comfort levels rise, and sleep improves, something every parent can appreciate.

Young kids are energetic. They need space to run, play, yell, and explore. If you’re considering a smaller house, at least prioritize a large, usable lot.

What I appreciate about my aunt and uncle’s place is that their house only takes up about 12% of the lot size so it was great for the kids.

The Ideal Lot Size For A Big Home

Ideally, look for a property where the lot size is at least twice the size of the home’s square footage. For example, if you buy a 3,500-square-foot home, aim for at least a 7,000-square-foot lot. Of course, in big cities where land trades at enormous premiums, this ratio may hard to find at a reasonable price. But we’re talking ideal here.

Try not to let the house take up more than 75% of the lot. Even with a large house, a lack of outdoor space can make things feel cramped. Sunshine and fresh air are essential for your well-being—especially if you have little monkeys running around.

Here’s a big, beautiful house I’d enjoy living in.

A Big Home Is Better for Work From Home

One of the hardest parts about sleeping on a sofa bed in a 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with three other people is the hit to my productivity. As a writer, I need peace and quiet—something that’s nearly impossible to find in a compact home on one floor with two young kids.

My AirPods became my best friend, but even they couldn’t block out all the noise. As a result, I had to wake up by 3:30 a.m. just to get some writing done before my son wakes up—sometimes as early as 5 a.m., and always by 6.

If I were a single guy in my 20s or 30s, sharing a place like this with a two or three roommates for several years wouldn’t be a big deal. After all, I shared a studio for two years with a friend. But as a 48-year-old writer who’s paid his dues, I’d much rather live in a larger home on two levels.

When I’m in a flow state, I want to write uninterrupted. A small home constantly pulls me out of that zone.

Downsize Later, If You Want

Living in a modest 1,000-square-foot home gave all of us perspective and appreciation. More importantly, it taught my kids to adapt to a smaller living arrange and show respect for their grandparents’ home.

In San Francisco, I’ve been fortunate. After renting a 600 square-foot one-bedroom condo with my wife, I finally took a leap of faith and bought a 990-square-foot 2/2 condo in 2003. In 2005, I upgraded to a 2,070-square-foot single-family home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a bonus room. Then I downsized in 2014 before buying larger homes again in 2019, 2020, and 2023.

Going from big to much smaller is like going camping—you give up creature comforts and appreciate what you have even more when you return. One of my biggest concerns with climbing the property ladder was giving my kids a warped sense of reality. That’s why trips like these are helpful resets.

If your first car is a brand-new BMW instead of an old beater, you might end up forever spoiled. That’s not great for building appreciation and work ethic. That’s part of why I drove for Uber for a year and gave over 500 rides. Working a near-minimum-wage service job was humbling, but it grounded me and made me more grateful. Partly as a result, I’ve been able to continue writing 3-4 posts a week on Financial Samurai since July 2009 without fail.

If you feel bad about living in a big, beautiful home. Don’t be. you can always downsize later, or after the kids move out. Just don’t downsize too small, otherwise, your kids may never come back to visit!

Yes, Big Homes Are More Costly To Maintain

A key principle of achieving financial independence is keeping your living expenses as low as possible. One way to do this is by getting neutral real estate and paying off your mortgage as quickly as you can. Another is by buying or renting the cheapest place you can tolerate for as long as possible.

I’m a big proponent of saving aggressively on housing costs so you can invest more in the stock market and other risk assets to build wealth faster. Big homes have higher utility bills, higher maintenance expenses, higher property taxes, and more things that can break or go wrong. An expensive home can derail your FIRE plans, for sure!

That said, if you’ve got a family and want to YOLO more, a bigger home can significantly improve your quality of life. More space often means better sleep, fewer arguments, and a more peaceful household.

It’s not just about luxury—it’s about functionality and family harmony. Many people came to this realization during the pandemic, when cramped living quarters became all too real.

So if you’re in a position to do so, enjoy your big, beautiful home. Just don’t forget the value of living simply and the lessons that come from making do with less.

Readers, do you own a big, beautiful home? If so, how large is it, and how does it compare to the median home size in your city? In your opinion, at what point does a home become too big? What do you consider a “big” home, and what are some downsides of owning one—beyond the higher carrying costs?

Surgically Invest In Real Estate

If you’re looking to invest in real estate without the headaches of dealing with tenants or maintenance, check out Fundrise—a private real estate investment platform with nearly $3 billion in assets under management.

Fundrise focuses primarily on industrial and residential commercial properties in the Sunbelt region, where valuations tend to be lower and yields higher. With mortgage rates gradually declining, valuations still soft from the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes, and a continued structural undersupply, commercial real estate looks increasingly attractive.

I’ve personally invested over $430,000 with Fundrise, and they’ve been a longtime sponsor of Financial Samurai.

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We’re staying with our parents for five weeks in Honolulu, and I wanted to share a little revelation I’ve learned about making a home guest-ready. If you dream of owning a home where friends and family regularly visit—because you genuinely enjoy their company, this post is for you.

Not all of us can afford mega-mansions with separate wings or homes on sprawling lots with multiple structures. If you’re like most people and can only afford one structure on a modest plot of land, then there’s one key feature you absolutely need to prioritize.

En suite bathrooms. That’s right. The key to harmonious, low-friction cohabitation is ensuring everyone has their own bathroom. The more en suites, the better. The term “en suite” comes from French and means “in sequence” or “attached.”

En Suite Bathrooms: The Unsung Hero of Guest Harmony

During our first week in Honolulu, I found myself waking up between 2 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. every morning—normal hours for me given the three-hour time difference from San Francisco. Unfortunately, nobody else was awake… except for my dad, who’s up by 3:30 a.m. to check the stock market. Cool beans, I didn’t know.

I had my own room, and my mom had hers across the hall. The shared bathroom sits between us—close enough to wake a light sleeper with even the gentlest faucet twist. Not wanting to disturb her, I found a workaround: I quietly crept upstairs and used my dad’s bathroom since he was already awake. Slightly inconvenient, but a solid solution.

Still, I couldn’t help but think: If only I had an en suite bathroom.

To be a courteous guest, I kept 85% of my toiletries in my room and left only my toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste on the bathroom counter. I even tucked them neatly to the right, so I took up minimal space.

A few days later, my mom asked me to move them. Apparently, I’d placed everything too close to the light switch, and she’d knocked over my electric toothbrush multiple times. My bad.

From then on, I moved those few items to another shared bathroom upstairs, the one my wife and kids use. But given it was already cramped, my stuff was regulated to a shelf in a closet.

Once again, I thought: If only my mom and I each had en suite bathrooms.

The Bathroom Ballet Continues

One afternoon, after a full morning of school drop-off, pickleball, the beach, and lunch, I took a well-earned nap. While I was sleeping, my wife walked to the local library to pick up books for the kids. When I woke up, I decided to use her upstairs bathroom instead of the downstairs one—just in case my mom, who’s always home, needed it.

Mid-grunt, my dad came to the back of the house to ask me a question. Two minutes later, my wife knocked on the bathroom door. She was back and needed to use it too. What was supposed to be a peaceful five-minute solo session turned into a series of interruptions.

Then, on another morning, I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to publish my post, Sleep In, Stay Broke: Wake Up Earlier for Financial Success. With a title like that, I had no excuse not to rise early. After writing and editing until 6:40 a.m., I went to the bathroom. Fifteen seconds in—like clockwork—my wife woke up and came straight to the door.

Finally, while staying at my aunt and uncle’s beach house, I slept on the futon in the living room. At 6:15 a.m., I got up to use the bathroom, which sits between the living room and my son’s room. Within seconds, he flung the door open with a big smile and shouted, “Good morning!”

Ah, more en suite bathrooms would be nice.

More Bathrooms = More Peace And Harmony

When you gotta go, you gotta go! Any type of delay or hinderance can be incredibly annoying, especially if you’re digestive system is plugged and you need to focus. The more bathrooms, the better.

What I’ve noticed over the years is that when people live together, their bathroom cycles somehow sync up. Even if I wake up at 4 a.m. and my wife gets up at 6:30 a.m., there’s still a high chance we’ll both need the bathroom at the same time at some point in the morning. Same goes for me and my parents.

In the past, I used to look down on large homes with as many bathrooms as bedrooms, or even more. It seemed excessive. But now I get it. It’s not about indulgence—it’s about comfort, privacy, and avoiding frustrating sighs in the hallway.

My parents’ house has three full bathrooms, which is more than enough for just the two of them. But with six of us under one roof, friction is inevitable. My aunt and uncle’s house has two bathrooms and two bedrooms over maybe 1,000 sqft, which is tight for the four of us. But the freedom to be by the ocean is wonderful.

Buy Or Build The Bathrooms

If you enjoy hosting guests, do yourself a favor: rent or buy a home with at least two en suite bathrooms and an additional full or half bath. Ideally, you have an en suite bathroom for every person who lives in the house plus a guest bathroom. Both your sanity and your digestive system will be eternally grateful. In fact, I’m now including this bathroom requirement for anyone searching for the ideal home to raise a family.

When I hosted my parents at our new house for 10 days, I felt 80% less stressed and so did they. Why? Because they each had their own bathrooms—and so did we and the kids. That kind of peace is worth every dollar and then some.

Basic full bathrooms are just fine. However, when designing a luxury master bathroom, consider including dual rain shower heads with a handheld option, a private toilet stall, double vanities, and a deep soaking tub with jets. Make sure you also have an electrical outlet behind the toilet so you can plug in your Toto Washlet. Once you go Washlet, you can’t go back.

Take a look around your home and see if you can convert unused space—like part of a closet or part of your garage—into a bathroom. Even better, if you’re able to expand your home’s footprint, it adds valuable livable square footage, which can boost your resale value.

Final Reason For More En Suite Bathrooms: Your Children And Friends May Visit You More Often

As I think in two timelines, I hope that 20 years from now, my children will still come visit their mom and me. I’ve heard too many sad stories of adult kids going years without seeing their parents. Once they’ve gotten what they needed financially and emotionally, they’re gone!

But with two en suite bathrooms ready for my daughter and son, they’ll have no excuse not to stop by and give their old man a hug and a kiss. And if we really start to get on their nerves, there’s even a separate mini-kitchen and entryway they can use to escape us in peace.

The more inviting your home, the more likely your children, friends, and loved ones will want to visit. This is especially true when you have to convince your spouse to stay at their in-laws.

Since strong, supportive relationships are the number one factor in living a long, happy, and healthy life, adding more en suite bathrooms could quite literally be a key to a life well lived.

Readers, what do you think the secret is to having a guest-ready home where both host and guests are comfortable for an extended period of time? How many en suite bathrooms do you have in your home? What is the ideal number of bathrooms a home should have?

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