How to Find Your Perfect Apartment

February 20, 2026 | Kylie Ann Keller Merrill

“Perfect” is a relative term, specific for each individual. Perfect is actually a matter of perspective, a play into a value system. Perfect is not linear, and it is certainly not “one size fits all.”

A good place to start: is there anything in your current home that feels like a pain point? Something you wish you can change based not on how you’re living now, but on the person you are becoming? Anything that you are longing for is something to deeply consider when looking for your next home.

Then we follow up with the limitations: ie, the budget. After looking at incoming money, how much is the maximum comfortable spend on monthly housing expenses? Even more, are there things that you are willing to give up that you normally enjoy (ie traveling, shopping), that would enable you to get the apartment that you really want if it does end up costing more that expected?

Next, we think about the other big constraints: location and size of apartment home. These two things will often drastically determine the cost of an apartment home. When thinking about location, apartments close to city centers and transportation hubs in “trending” neighborhoods will drive up the price. The further you move from transportation, the more favorable the price point tends to be. When factoring in space, the larger the apartment (ie 2 bedroom v 1 bedroom), will of course make a difference in price. The question here lies: which one is more important? And if both are equally incredibly important, then how flexible is your price range?

What determines a location’s importance is relative to lifestyle: what does your daily life look like? How often do you need to take public transportation, or will you have a car instead? And for apartment size: do you work from home at all and are thinking about where to put a desk? Are there any pieces of furniture that you currently have (or want to have) that you would like to bring with you into this next apartment home? What do you need in your home to make it work for you and the life that you want to live (not necessarily the current life that you are living now)? What about beyond your day to day? What really makes you come alive? Do you enjoy entertaining? If so, is an open-style kitchen, a large living room, or an extra bathroom important (or perhaps a combination of any / all)? Are you a plant parent? If so, do your plant babies need direct sunlight? These lifestyle questions and more are all things to consider when thinking of your next home!

For some people, answering these questions can be a fun exercise and for others, it can be an overwhelming and intimidating process. If the latter sounds like you, I’d love to help you navigate this process to find that place where you feel like you belong. Loving your home isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity!

Curious about how to find the perfect place for you? Reach out and let’s find your next home, together!

how japanese hospitality inspired me

February 2, 2026 | Kylie Ann Keller Merrill

Anyone who has had the pleasure of visting Japan has been touched by the attention to detail and the level of care that each induvidual has for their craft, the space that they occupy. You can really feel this when you are totally present in your environment and disconnected from the world around you.

You notice the ever-changing colors on the trees. You notice the way the towels outside the onsen are folded. You notice that each item with breakfast is served on a different ceramic dish and is uniquely beautiful. You notice that when you put your shoes on and are ready to go outside, the staff has taken liberty of dusting off the dirt from your day of exploring the day before.

And it is all of these seemingly small moments, that are not so insignificant. That are not so small. There is beauty in the every day, in service, in hospitality.

Japan is such a special place, a place I hope to return to someday. This hotel in Hakone is tucked away in the neighborhood of Gora. From the moment that you arrive on site, you can feel the warmth of the staff and the pride they feel in the work they do. From the smell of the hallway, to the radio / speaker in the dining area for putting on your tunes of choice during dinner, there is no detail that goes overlooked. This recent trip has inpsired me to slow down more and notice the small things that affect our daily lives. Someone, somewhere has put thought into the end result I see before me.

The questions I am asking myself now are: how can I make little choices that can positively impact the end result of someone’s day? How can I do something seemingly small that is actually not so small? When it comes to my work in the real estate industry, how can I train my eye to see additional value in an apartment home or a New York City neighborhood, something I can share with clients or potential buyers? When I am working with a seller to put their apartment home, what can I highlight to buyers that speaks to their core beliefs? It is questions like these that both challenge and encourage me to look at things from a different perspective.

There’s Snow Place Like Home

January 30, 2026 | Kylie Ann Keller Merrill

Snowy days have a fun way of reminding us how important it is to love where you live! When the city slows down, walking more than 5 blocks feels like a chore and your apartment windows turn into the best snow globe: loving your apartment isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

I have had the prevliedge of loving every apartment home I have lived in, but finding the right home takes works! Knowing what is important to you is a key place to start.

Curious about how to find the perfect place for you? Reach out and let’s find your next home, together!

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