When it comes to buying a house, there is one major piece of advice that I would give to my younger self.

Splurge on location. Spend more than you think you can. Skimp on everything else.

Your minimalist kitchen, open shelves, and statement lighting will all go out of style. It’s an evolutionary hazard. We change, and our houses change with us.

But your location? That’s the one thing about your home that you can’t change. (And how far do you really want to be from your office, your kids’ school, or your friends’ places?)

You can update your paint colors, upgrade your appliances, and repair that one floorboard that always squeals when you step on it. But as a realtor, I want to see you prioritize your location first and foremost.

This is just one reason I love Louisville. Not only is this city one of the world’s top foodie destinations, but we also have a variety of neighborhoods, spanning everything from affordable to luxury. Depending on your needs, there are three locations that stand out.

One of my favorite Louisville communities is The Highlands. It offers a range of affordable housing options, as well as coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. The Highlands neighborhood is well-known for its nightlife and dining, but don’t stop there! It’s also home to the Louisville Mega Cavern, which has an underground zipline, ropes course, and bike park. Even if you’re not a resident, it’s a great place to bring your kids for an adventure.

Another neighborhood I love to show off is St. Matthews. Homes here range from the low $100Ks to over $1M, so if you’re looking to put down roots in a specific area, this is a great option. St. Matthews is known to be a welcoming, quiet place to live, ideal for young professionals and families. Like The Highlands, it’s full of Louisville’s signature foodie-approved restaurants and coffee shops, as well as several parks (i.e., if staging a picnic and taking photos of it is your thing, look no further).

For growing families and empty-nesters alike, I also suggest checking out Prospect. It offers a lower population density while maintaining easy access to dining and walking paths. There is a wide variety of single-family homes available, as well as multi-family residences. Depending on which subdivision you choose, Prospect also provides swimming pools, golf courses, and more, ticking all the location boxes. As we put it here in Kentucky, they’ve got more amenities than Carter’s got liver pills.

Ultimately, buying a house comes with many “consumption decisions.” But the legitimate investment? That comes down to your location. I’ll be saying this to my clients for years to come.

You can change your countertops, your fixtures, your windows, everything up to the roof and down to the floor… but you’re stuck with the value of the land itself.

Don’t just choose a house. Invest in the location you want.