The Secretary Problem
I found a home to purchase by implementing this.<p>I visited two places to establish criteria, then built a simple search across Greater London on Rightmove using area searches with proximity to Waitrose. The results I then filtered again based on price per square foot and rejecting certain keywords (aiming for a price per sq ft between £500-600 without needing renovation, but looking for no chain + quick sale).<p>As soon as a high quality and low price to square foot came up I put in an offer without having viewed it (I did view it once before completion).<p>I live there now... It's a gorgeous apartment purchased about 15% below market rate in a nice area.<p>Implementing a basic solution to the secretary / optimal stopping problem meant that with criteria that took out the vast majority of average places, I stopped on the first one and committed to it.