This year, the Hunt touched down in 14 U.S. states and four foreign nations, with prices ranging from $135,000 to $6.75 million.

Clockwise from top left: Sierra Nguyen in San Francisco; Keeva Haynes with her daughter, Jaida, in Atlanta; Stephen Downard in London; Laurie and Steven Goldstein in New York’s Hudson Valley; Jeanine Molock in Philadelphia; and the Tinklenberg family in Madison, Wis.The New York Times

Moving hasn’t always been this hard. In 2024, with inventory running low and borrowing rates staying high, there were only about four million home sales in the United States — the fewest since 1995. But every week in the Hunt, we bring you the story of someone who made it happen. From New York City down to Georgia, up to Wisconsin and out to California, these home buyers navigated an often bumpy road that led to a starter apartment or a retirement community, a mansion or a mobile home. Here are some of our (and your) favorite Hunts from 2024.

[Did you recently buy a home? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

Mark Dougherty, wearing a blue striped shirt and a bright orange belt, stands with his arms folded in a public square on a sunny day.
Mark Dougherty wanted to buy a reasonably priced condominium in Minneapolis or St. Paul, Minn. He was willing to do some renovation work and preferred a two-bedroom, although he was open to a one-bedroom.Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times

After his retirement, Mark Dougherty toured condos of all stripes in Minneapolis and St. Paul, looking for a small place that was in decent shape, though he was willing to remodel and customize it. “I need to shake up my life,” he said.

Mary Jo Maddeford in Evian, France, where she purchased a modest home after retiring as a teacher.Darren S. Higgins for The New York Times

When she retired as an elementary schoolteacher in Seattle, Mary Jo Maddeford tossed around some ideas of where she might like to live next. “I wanted a small town with lots of cute shops and restaurants, but close to some bigger cities,” she said. Her brother, who lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, suggested Evian, the small French city across Lake Geneva.

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