Many people would have argued that I started my apartment hunt in France a tad prematurely. I barely had any substantial savings, I just met the minimum requirements of securing a bank loan, and to top it off, I just switched jobs, which is usually a no-go for banks to give out loans during probation periods. “Stop looking, you cannot afford to buy much anyway.” My boyfriend sighed at me in frustration as he looked at me obsessing unhealthily over hundreds of property listings. It’s true, I tend to hyper-focus on stuff when it becomes a part of my to-do list because I want it finished. I don’t like dragging things out. So the 4-month search I endured was hell for me, to say the least. Most people take 6 months to a year to find their dream property at the right price, and if there’s anything I learned from the...