But don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying you shouldn’t keep the door open. It’s too easy to get hung up on standards, or an “ideal guy,” or what was drilled into our heads by our parents. As one female patient of mine, a single real estate broker, said:

“Listen, maybe it’s because of my job, but I approach dating like house-shopping. First I pick a neighborhood in my price range. I’m realistic. Look, I know I’m never going to live on Brad Pitt Lane or George Clooney Avenue, but that doesn’t mean I have to settle for a dump on George Costanza Row. And once I’m out there shopping, I always factor in renovation costs—because honey, I don’t care how good a paint job he has on the surface, no man is in “move-in” condition. But sometimes a fixer-upper is a good investment—especially if he’s a good kisser. And here’s the other thing I learned: Don’t be afraid to flip—life is short, you have to live like the market is red-hot. Give him a try, and if it doesn’t work out, then flip him and move on.”

To stick with Nancy’s metaphor, stay optimistic. It’s a big market out there. Be open to new neighborhoods you may not have been considering. Trust me: It’s only a matter of time until you find a home worth taking out that 30-year mortgage on.