When you're buying a home, you might find yourself trying to strike a balance between what you love and what will make the home appealing to future buyers. But how much weight should you give to resale value? There is one main variable that can be helpful to consider -- how long you plan to live there.

If you're planning to stay in the home for ten years or more, you don't necessarily need to stress about:

1.  The exact price you pay today.

2.  Whether the home has quirky features that might not appeal to everyone.

With a longer time horizon, you'll have more time for your home's value to appreciate-- so slightly overpaying now probably won't have a significant long-term impact. And if that sunken living room, bold paint colors, or uniquely shaped kitchen layout make you happy, great! You'll have many years to enjoy those features before it's time to sell.

On the other hand, if you expect to move again in just a few years, you should think more carefully about:

1.  How the price you're paying today lines up with current market value.

2.  Whether the home's features are broadly appealing or might limit your buyer pool when it's time to resell.

So, the shorter your anticipated length of ownership, the more you need to think about resale from the start. But if you're planning to stay put for a while, it's okay to make a few choices that are more about your enjoyment of the house rather than about selling it to the next owner in the future.