What house-hunting or home-buying tips would you like to share? Drop them in the comment section below (and please don't forget to like this video. 😊) Empty House Tour here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fLuTp62VlrW3fHk.htmlsi=e_LiaQaliTjCN2Ef (in case you missed it!)

I'm always astonished by the people whose questions and comments indicate that they have all of the right answers for every single person on Earth and can therefore tell you everything you are doing "wrong." I can only hope you are able to completely ignore them. I think you have an amazing family and have chosen a great home. Best wishes as you begin this new chapter. ❤🚪

I LOVE seeing you with your husband ❤ you light up around him ♥️ you can tell he’s your person.

It is crazy to me that people have opinions about where you live and why and what you like and why. And the size of your house or the amount of storage you have. We are all different. Enjoy your life and congratulations on the new house it is beautiful.

The two of you seem like an amazing duo, so much in sync with each other. Thank you for sharing all your tips and being so honest about your experience.

Oh my goodness, that really does look like My Neighbor Totoro - I love it 😍

My daughter and her husband bought a house 4 years ago. It was very frustrating for them. They looked at many houses and were turned down because they hadn't sold their house yet. My husband and I offered for them to move in with us so they could sell their place and make settlement. They moved in and found a great place but they were outbid. But the person had over bid so much the bank wouldn't give them a loan. My daughter was then given a second chance and they bought the house. They are still making changes to make it their own. It is on a wonderful street with the best neighbors. My grandson has so many friends.

I really enjoyed seeing the respect and love you both expressed in how you each allowed the other to speak without interrupting when you spoke. Very balanced conversation. And how you each looked at the other person when they were speaking in such a loving manner.

Always fun when Mr. Zen makes an appearance! I can’t wait to see you decorate your new space and make it your own! Thank you for confirming you were filming in Germany. I noticed right away! Ha

TY Mr. Zen for joining the Q&A. :-)

Was so nice to have your husband on this video. Your home is so beautiful, the patio room is my favorite! Less is more. I have always enjoyed your videos through the years. Thank you for sharing!😊

Hi, Marissa! So glad to see Mr. Zen again and in your beautiful Berlin home! I've been hoping for some time that you bring Mr. Zen back to your channel because I find his approach to life healing for the soul. Once again, he didn't dissapoint, he said just what I needed to hear: "we are guests of a house". Love to you, guys!

Things change so much over time too. 18 years ago I bought on a sleepy quiet little street. It’s now full of huge buildings and has gotten quite noisy. I really hope yours stays quiet. I’m a quiet lover too. 😩

You remind me of my husband and me because people didn't understand why we were frugal, despite both having well-paid jobs. It all made sense when we finally bought the home of our dreams - spacious enough for just the two of us, with plenty of storage space that we hardly use (because we're cheap, haha). My husband has an old-fashioned saying, 'penny-wise and pound-foolish' - we're thrifty with small purchases but sometimes spend unwisely on bigger ones. Unfortunately, many people do the opposite and struggle to save for larger projects. Enjoy your beautiful house! Best from Bogotá, Colombia!

When you buy get an inspection and follow the inspector around. That way you can hear first hand what needs work what to do maintenance on first etc.

Love what you said about balancing each other out. I've always disliked the term "opposites". Men and women are not "opposites". We are complimentary. In a good marriage, we compliment each other, and together we make one complete and wonderful entity, like you said. 💕

I love your new house and glad you were able to click off your boxes. Also, I would be excited about storage space even if I didn't not use it. Empty spaces give the best feeling. Congratulations on your new home.

Congratulations on your new home! Thank you for sharing this video. I liked how you and your husband complimented each other with the practical side and emotional side of home buying. It’s a great balance. I’m so happy for you! 🎉

I'm absolutely obsessed with your sun porch and yard. As a nature lover, having a space like this has always been my dream. I'm currently living in a space I don't like (apartment in the city, my bedroom window literally overlooks the kitchen in the next building and the room has no natural light). I have clinical depression, anxiety and am neurodivergent so my current space really takes a toll on me. But I'm hopeful because I'm discussing getting married and moving in with my partner within a couple of years and we are literally making our wishlist and non-negotiables for our dream home. We are poor, college kids so we are not going to buy a house anytime soon but even when renting, we need to check off our non negotiables. As minimal-ish people (who have grown up in hoarder households), we're more thane willing to compromise on space but not on having these calming, zen elements in the space we live in. Our home NEEDS to be a sanctuary for us. And I'm so glad you guys found such a place your family. I'll be showing my partner your house tour video for inspiration haha

so cute to see y'all back in the berlin living room :) congrats on the new house!

“Stewards of our homes…” that took my breath away. I agree, and I feel disappointed, sad, and angry at how often landlords in our area fail to take care of homes correctly while keeping rents as high as possible. We can’t buy in yet, but I would feel a responsibility to the public resource that a house ultimately is if we could buy one.

I don’t know how they count square footage where you are Marissa, but as someone who has owned a house in four different states I can say that it is amazing how differently square footage is counted in different states. My friends in Michigan marvel at how huge all the houses in Virginia are until I explain how square footage here is calculated. People need to stop comparing and judging. I hope you enjoy your new house. It is beautiful and the quality is obvious even over the screen.

Your new home looks terrific. The “sunroom” and view would be worth the price for me. Hoping you have many years of happy memories and beautiful times there.

I think you guys did a great job finding a house. What a beautiful yard and the volume of the spaces is just lovely. As a past midwestern girl I love that modern vibe of Chicago homes❤

Mr. Zen: “Yeah I fully agree with you Marissa…” Me: 👍😃

I was like "How are they filming this in their house in Germany?" Then you explained it😂 Love when Mr Zen makes an appearance, he is so cool & sweet...you really suit each other Marissa. Love the new house (I thought it has a really zen asian vibe/look too. Can't wait to see more more more! Bridget💞🚪

I feel so warmly and caring for you and your family. It's difficult to choose a favorite KZfaq personality because of my many interests, but I am willing to go on a limb and say that it is you and Mr. Zen and the boys. Thank you for being honest and open and informative and kind and wise and generous and fearless, etc.

🚪 Love that! "We're just guests of a house."

I don't think the size of a house has anything to do with minimalism. You could have a small house but fill it full or a big house and have a lot space for an airy feeling.

Cicadas are considered lucky as they represent renewal & transformation! 🤗

Praises to you for standing up for your property line. I can relate to your feelings. A neighbor built a fence one foot over our property line, but my parents preferred not to do anything about it to avoid trouble. (I came in through the Door).

So nice to see Mr. Zen! You guys are fantastic together. Really enjoyed this Q & A. And I am excited to see how you make the space your own !! You couldn’t have chosen a better home for yourselves! Actually, I think the house picked you. It’s perfect! I can just see your boys enjoying the yard when there is snow on the ground.

I love your home. It has so much character. Your two are so right about the previous owners. They clearly took great care of that home. That’s important to me as well. I’m following a handful of inspectors so that I can learn what to look for when home hunting. I’m looking for an older cottage. No flips or new construction for me! Absolutely not!

At the beginning I was like:"their new house looks so similar to their house in Germany". 😂😂😂 I hope you are happy and make great memories in your new space. Thank you so much for sharing. I've learned a lot, hopefully one day i will be able to use that knowledge in the future🤞🏽💜

A survey is so important. Years ago we bought a house made into a daycare. It was built in 1930. Our neighbor said our building was on the line. Our property was really in the middle of the city street! Because it went from residential to business zoning, he could build on the property line up next to ours, making it unsafe for a daycare. We ended up selling for a new building to be built on it. It took 2 years to sell it. It was a small town so demand for commercial property was low.

Thanks for sharing. I'm not planning on moving, but I enjoyed watching you and Mr. Zen talk about your new home!

This video makes my heart so happy! I love 💕 how supportive you are of each other. Thank you for making these videos. 😊 And congrats on your new house purchase! It’s BEAUTIFUL!

9:20 the way Mr.Zen looks at you with adoration and love in agreement with your words ❤

I had the same happen to me, I went for a house initially and we lost it, but in the end we ended up with the house of our dreams compared to the one we lost. So even though you feel like you missed out, there is most likely a better one waiting for you ❤

Anyway, minimalists can have a big house. There are a lot of people who get mixed up with essentialists.🤦‍♀️

Marissa, this is such a GREAT video!!! I have been resisting minimalism because I enjoy the things I’ve acquired in my 60 years. But, as I watch your journey, I am drawn to the peace and serenity a more minimal lifestyle offers. Your new home is perfect for you and your family. You will be good stewards of it. It is lovely to see you and Mr. Zen enjoying your wonderful German home this summer. Take care and safe travels back to your new home. 🏠💕

So happy that you got your home! My husband and I are still on the hunt and it is truly wild out here with people waiving inspections and so many houses going $100k + over asking. We keep losing out to people with cash offers as well. Wish us luck!

Thanks Marissa & Mr Zen for all the advice. Me and my partner are currently renting & searching for our new home in the UK after recently selling our house - So far it's been a very steep learning curve & almost as stressful as selling but for different reasons, we also have 6 cat babies which is making finding a safe area for them an extra factor. Buying the right home is such a massive life step & a huge financial commitment so any advice is very welcome 🙏

Can't wait to see the new house all furnished and decorated! Thanks for those good advices.

It was meant to be, you made a good choice. We have owned 8 houses in our 50 year marriage, we are good at renos and did well at each sale.The house previous to our current was a beautiful custom home that had been on the market for two years because the owners had put in a lot of odd things and too many things which made it look smaller than it was. We lived there seven years and when we decided to retire I pushed my husband to put the house on the market in the Spring so we could travel all summer and find a new location as it took two years to sell last time. The house actually sold in one day and we had no plan. It was all my fault, I didn't take into account that we had taken out all the weird stuff and also it had been on the Woman's club house walk in the fall and 500 people already saw it. We were down to the wire and almost had to move in with one of our kids!! The funny ending is we bought a temporary fixer upper house in a town we had never been to while we looked around. We fixed it up and like it here and have been here for eight years now! But if we move again I will already have a new house!!!

I love your new house! I definitely like the MCM style that leans more natural/zen. You are so right about that porch being like My Neighbor Totoro! The open entryway, kitchen, porch, and den/study are all so nice (and offer so much built-in storage!) 🤩

I thought that looked like your house 😊 and that's awesome that your family lives there❤

Great information that will be so helpful to someone that is in the market to buy! Love the new house 🏠… Wow!! A real Zen home. You have a great channel with a trustworthy insight on so many things when your videos come up I’m all ears. You and your husband are such a wonderful couple!!

Very Interesting. Thank you both. It was good to have you both sharing.

So much great information! Thank you the video:) I'm glad it all worked out the way it did 🌷

New sub here. Don't justify yourself to viewers who criticise your choices. It only encourages their self importance. Love your new house😊

Great video, thank you both 😊 have a wonderful time in Europe!

What your husband said about being guests of a house really resonated with me. I completely agree. That philosophy can apply to other areas as well especially the Earth. I will carry that philosophy with me & share it with my kids ☺️ Thank you guys for sharing Best wishes & house blessings to you 🙏🏻💞

It was lovely listening to both you and your husband, share your perspectives about your home. Thank you for sharing...

I am so happy for you and your family. I’m looking forward to watching you settle in. What a fantastic home.

This has been so good! Thank you!

Congratulations! I'm very happy for you and your family.

Very useful video. Thanks for sharing.

Absolutely the BEST information regarding looking and purchasing a home!Thanks

Congratulations on your new home! It looks beautiful! Good to see Mr Zen today. Enjoy your time in Berlin ❤

This was so informative and interesting. Thank you both!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m wishing you and your family many happy years together in your new home. It was so nice to hear input from Mr Zen. You’re such a cute and sensible couple!! ❤

LOVED this video. SO much very useful information, taken to an awesome level by your discussion of this very important topic as a COUPLE. Thanks to both of you!

Love your new home. Congratulations! ♥ You two are fun to watch and have a lot of wisdom.

So glad you found your new home before your visit to Germany! Imagine it helped your visit be more relaxed and enjoyable. Great video ~ bonus with Mr. Zen. Looking forward to your future videos as always 💕

Thank you for sharing. Love your videos!

Many blessings to you and your family in your new home. This video shows how well prepared you are and also your family deserves it. Enjoy it and thank you for sharing ❤

Goodness gracious 😱😱😱 my poor little french soul just fainted when I converted 4000 square feet to meters, I am already overwhelmed by my 1937 square feet of family mess and it is considered here in rural France like a pretty big house. Also absolutely great video 😍 I'm a realtor and comparing US regulations to French is very interesting. All the best to you 2 and your family in this new adventure 💝

Love Mr. Zen. TFS.

What an amazing home you and Mr. Zen purchased! You two are so sweet with each other in this video 💕 Glad you were able to keep your home in Berlin as well! Hope you, Mr. Zen, and your boys really love getting settled into your new home 😊

Love your discussion at the end re being stewards of your home and the Chinese bamboo growing 4 years underground and then shooting up 80 feet in a blink. Very nice!

It’s great to hear from Mr Zen, again!

You are such a great team! Loved this video

Congrats on the new house! ❤️

🚪Congrats with your new home, Thanks for all the minimalistic infomation you share with us. I have learned alot from you since following your youtube videos. 🙂

GREAT INFORMATIVE video!!!!! Thank you for all your insightful advice and how you approach buying of a house and all that leads up to the purchase. 😊

Excellent content! Thank you! 😊

Omg you’re at your old house, love it!

It is great to see you and Mr. Zen! Good video!

Best of wishes to find furniture that works really well for you! That takes so long but worth the wait for just the right stuff. You chose such a nice home!

Yay, looking forward to the makeovers so much

This was such a good video !

Enjoyed the video! Thank you!

Really, really like that house. You got a great deal just from the perspective of style and those red- colored cupboards and shelving. Hope you enjoy it loads.

Love your explanation about minimalism and the size of the house. ❤😊 You two are so nice! Thank you for sharing! Congratulations on your new and beautiful home.

I LOVE your new house! You're going to make it awesome!❤❤❤

Thank you for sharing, great video 😊❤

Congrats on your new home! It is beautiful. My husband and I lived in small apartments, so small we even had our bed in the living room so our daughter could have her own room, for most of first 10 years of our marriage and saved, saved, saved. Yes, compounded interest. Living small meant we could live on one salary and save the other. In addition, spending more time with our baby/toddler daughter instead of on house/yard maintenance was a gift. When we did buy a house, we did it without an agent. 17 years later we staged and sold it ourselves, had 5 offers in one week and sold far more than asking price. Our current house we purchased 2 years ago. I had been looking on-line daily and found this house at 430 am the day it went live. By 6am we were on our way to our new town 2 1/2 hours away. By 9 we had already lined up home and sewer inspections and a showing for later that day. It took 1 minute inside and we knew we wanted the house. So few homes became available in the part of town we wanted (we had been looking for 3 years, on line daily) that we jumped on this house. Desperate, we also had narrowed our requirements down to 2, both having to do with location. It turned out that this house also had the 20 dream requirements (high ceilings among them) on the list I had made 3 years prior. We threw everything we could at this house and out bid 2 others. Here there is a "review date" a week after the listing goes live and a time by which the offers have to be in. There is also a thing called an "escalation clause" meaning you can offer X amount, but are willing to pay X amount higher than then highest bidder up to X amount. My mother's house which we sold in 2018 (6 offers in one week) our house we sold in 2019 (5 offers in one week) and this house all had escalation clauses. We went way over asking price, far higher than I ever considered going - until the pandemic raised prices and it was the only thing we could do - and after that year, values dropped a bit, but they have more than recovered now. And this house is 3,000 sq feet, 800 sq feet bigger than our last. We did not need a house this big but it is wonderful to have the space, including a huge shop the size of a garage and a huge storage room. We have NOT filled all our rooms, but have the bare necessities and I kind of like the spare feeling. We are uncluttered and have space for kitchen items so all counters are clear. So are we minimalists? So far we use less energy than at our old house because we have solar panels. Solar powers our car - which we share - too. We use a push mower and hand tools for gardening and yard maintenance. Clothes are dried outside - which stretches the longevity of clothes, sheets etc. . We don't eat meat so eat low on the food chain. Books are not purchased unless needed for reference. Most books electronically checked out of the library as we are voracious readers. We spend money on experiences such as violin and piano lessons (yes, my husband and I, in our 60s now, take lessons) and for fixing up our house (new electrical panel, paint, some light fixtures etc.) Home maintenance was a big shift from living in our 650sq foot apartment for 3 years, but I have a system for cleaning, and I treat cleaning as exercise. Our house needed and needs lots of things fixed but my husband LOVES wiring and fixing things. In fact that was on HIS wish list. Everyone's path to home ownership is different. Cannot stress enough about saving money as soon as you can in life so as to reap the rewards later.

I think your new house is beautiful. With your 2 active boys it is great. I love seeing you together This is a great video

I bought my first house at 20, outgrew it as the children came along and bought my second at 26. Two major things I have learned from the process that most people don't talk about, is to never exceed 85% of the bank approved mortgage limit and to hire 2 different home inspectors.

Excellent video! One of your best Marissa. 😉

another great video. This should be required viewing for homebuyers! It would help realtors out to recommend this-seriously!! I've never had a "forever" home and agree stewardship is a good term. best of luck with the move, look forward to seeing you all settle in.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope you’re enjoying your time in Germany and look forward to seeing you put your own touches on your beautiful new home…..your sanctuary. ❤🙏🏻🤗

Beautiful complicity between you two. Best video from A to Zen life

Hello Mr.Zen! Nice to meet you! You both are such a super cute couple! We have bought 3 houses, each one was so different from the others! Our last and forever home was the best experience! Everything just click together so fast! And we didn’t sell the other house ! I never thought we would be able to not have to sell it, so we rented it out. Anyway Your new house has so much potential! I can’t wait to see how you both make it into your home! I’d like to tell the people who made comments about you two buying a “ huge” house when you are minimalist! Minimalism LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE! I really don’t understand why people tell others how to do THEIR minimalism! MIND YOUR OWN FRONT STEP! When we bought our home that we have now, We both knew that This Was The ONE! It’s a1,1700 sq.ft. Log cabin. 1 bed 1 bath within a loft where our two youngest daughters had their bedrooms. We use the largest Kalfax from Ikea for their “ walls” worked perfectly! Now our youngest is still home, and she has the while loft and loves it. I love our home…. The only thing I want to do is move my washer & dryer on the main floor! I don’t like going to the dark dungeon basement to do laundry. There’s no windows in our basement. I’d like to build a 10X10 room on the back of our house for a laundry room/ dog room I have 8 dogs! 😊🙃😂😳😬

Great video! Buying a house is not an easy task, but you were able to find a very nice, zen one. I hope living there will be peaceful and joyful.

i love your new home i like that its very airy and you dont have to have a small home to be minimal x

Hi Mr. Zen!!! Great video!!! ✨🧡

Door ❤ I’ve wanted to move for a while to our forever home. (My current home was purchased with my ex husband) It’s the final piece for me in my growing and moving on from a really painful past… because of the market and other issues it’s just taking so much longer. I really appreciated watching you and learning from you not only about minimalism but in your own moving story. Congratulations on your beautiful home. Thank you so much for sharing what you share it’s so helpful for many of us.!!

Thank you for sharing your experience! And the useful advice that was given. Wishing you a great visit in Germany 🇩🇪