#algorithms
Discover how computer science can revolutionize your home buying strategy. Learn to apply the mathematically proven 37% rule from 'Algorithms to Live By' using homi's smart features.
Kristian Elset Bø
Author
Imagine you're house hunting in a competitive market. You find yourself caught in the eternal dilemma: spend too little time looking and you might miss the perfect home, but spend too much time exploring options and that dream house could slip away to another buyer.
Sound familiar? This isn't just a modern problem—it's a classic example of what computer scientists call an "optimal stopping problem." And thanks to decades of mathematical research, there's a scientifically proven solution.
What is the 37% Rule? A mathematically proven strategy from computer science that maximizes your chances of finding the absolute best option when you have a limited time to search and can't go back to previous choices.
The 37% Rule for House Hunting: Spend exactly 37% of your house hunting timeline exploring options without making offers. After that point, make an offer on the very first house that beats everything you've seen before.
This rule comes from Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, who discovered that the same mathematical principles computers use to solve complex optimization problems can help humans make better life decisions.
Here's how it works in practice:
Phase 1: The Exploration Phase (37% of your timeline)
Phase 2: The Decision Phase (remaining 63%)
This is not merely an intuitively satisfying compromise between looking and leaping. It is the provably optimal solution.
The 37% rule feels counterintuitive because it asks us to:
Common Mistake: Many house hunters make offers too early or keep searching indefinitely. The 37% rule eliminates both of these suboptimal strategies.
But here's the powerful reality: this strategy maximizes your chances of finding the absolute best house available within your timeline.
Traditional house hunting makes this strategy nearly impossible to execute. But homi's features are perfectly designed to support algorithmic decision-making:
Set your house hunting deadline in homi, and we'll automatically calculate your 37% exploration cutoff date. No mental math required.
During your exploration phase, homi tracks every property detail and helps you establish clear benchmarks:
Once you enter the decision phase, homi's alerts system ensures you never miss a property that beats your established criteria.
Automatically calculates your 37% cutoff date based on your house hunting timeline
Tracks every property you visit to establish data-driven comparison standards
Alerts you immediately when a new listing beats your established benchmarks
Visualizes your exploration and decision phases so you always know where you are in the process
Sarah's Silicon Valley Search Sarah had 8 weeks to find a home before her job relocation. Using homi's 37% rule feature:
The Martinez Family's Upgrade With two kids starting school in the fall, the Martinez family had a hard 12-week deadline:
Lars and Emma's Oslo Adventure Moving from Bergen to Oslo for new jobs, Lars and Emma faced the notoriously competitive Oslo housing market with a 10-week timeline:
Pro Tip: The 37% rule works best with clearly defined timelines. If you're browsing casually without a deadline, consider setting an artificial one to activate the strategy's benefits.
The 37% rule does more than optimize outcomes—it transforms the psychological experience of house hunting:
Reduces Decision Fatigue: Clear phases eliminate constant "should I or shouldn't I" debates
Builds Confidence: Mathematical backing reduces second-guessing and regret
Creates Urgency: Artificial deadlines prevent endless searching
Improves Negotiation: Confidence in your strategy strengthens your offer position
Ready to let computer science guide your home search? Homi's kanban board system is designed specifically to help you execute the 37% rule perfectly:
Homi's board automatically organizes your search into the optimal phases using proven real estate workflows:
Phase 1: Exploration Stage (37% of timeline)
Phase 2: Decision Stage (63% of timeline)
The stage names automatically adapt based on your intention:
The 37% rule is just one example of how computer science can improve human decision-making. From optimal stopping problems to resource allocation, the algorithms that power our digital world offer proven frameworks for life's biggest choices.
House hunting might feel uniquely personal and emotional—and it absolutely is. But by adding a layer of mathematical rigor to the process, we can make better decisions while reducing stress and regret.
After all, finding your dream home shouldn't be left to chance when science has already solved the problem.
Looking through the lens of computer science can teach us about the nature of the human mind, the meaning of rationality, and the oldest question of all: how to live.
Ready to revolutionize your house hunting strategy? Try homi's 37% rule optimizer and join thousands of homebuyers who've discovered the power of algorithmic decision-making.
Founder of homi and real estate enthusiast.
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