Whether it's people, puppies, or houses, most human beings have a natural attraction to cute things. Cute people get more dates. Cute houses get more money. Hollywood is full of examples of very cute people who, though they are initially very attracted to each other, soon decide that "cute" wasn't enough. The same thing can happen with home ownership -- that "cute house" might not be all that you hope it is. Here are a few things to consider when trying to get beyond the "cute factor."

1) Sometimes a great house is obscured by a not-so-great exterior. But let's face it, how much time do you spend looking at the outside of your house? As with long-term relationships, it's the inside that counts. For example, split-level homes are almost always cuter than ramblers, but the moment you have a sprained ankle, C-section or other physical challenge you'll gladly give up a lot of "cute" to avoid a few stairs.

2) Flippers love ugly, not cute, houses. Why? Because they're cheap and often they can look a lot better with just a little work. You know those makeover shows on television, where some different clothes, a little makeup, and a haircut make somebody look a lot better? Sometimes the same goes for a little paint, a little carpet, and a few well-placed bushes around a house.

3) What's "cute" changes. In the 1970s, harvest gold and avocado green were the ultimate in cute. In ten years, will we be looking at stainless steel appliances the same way we now look at harvest gold? Probably. Are you willing to pay a premium for "cute" when the standards are bound to change?

4) You change. Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself from a couple of decades ago and asked yourself "what was I thinking?" Have you ever felt a strong physical attraction to somebody only after you got to know him or her? Sometimes you have to take some time and live with what you thought was "ugly" brown carpeting before you realize how well it works.

5) Are you ready to maintain the "cute"? Lots of times, cute takes work. (Once again, this applies to people and relationships as well!) Keeping up with the flower boxes and making sure the deck gets painted every year... Some houses are so cute they're like the person who needs $300 a month worth of haircuts and highlights. That's fine if you value that kind of thing, and if have the money to support it, but those maintenance costs need to be a factor in your home-buying decisions.

When it comes to buying a house, "cute" is an important element, but it's only one of many. Don't let your initial "cute" or "not cute" emotions overrule everything else!

Ruth Ann Larson is an "advanced real estate hobbyist" based in the suburban Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. She is founder of (and regular contributor to) Home Deals - Bargain Real Estate in Minnesota, a web site dedicated to informal real estate advice and discussion of "good deals" in the housing market.