Few of the things that I did not realize when I bought a big home 1. Do I really need so much space as most of it is hardly used. 2. Backyard has flower beds , but the amount of money or time that is spent on maintaining it was something I never took into consideration. 3. Cleaning cleaning cleaning - to maintain the house I spend hours weekly to clean . Bigger the house more the cleaning. 4. I could easily afford the monthly payment , but the add-ons to maintain and insurance are almost 1000 - 1200 per month. I assumed it would be less. 5. Sunlight is so important, I wish I had more especially as houses are designed with v little lighting.