Final answer:
The correct option is b) Nonprogrammed.
Buying a house is a nonprogrammed decision, requiring careful and considered thought, as it is an intertemporal decision affecting one's life over many years.
Step-by-step explanation:
For most people, buying a house can be described as a nonprogrammed decision. This term refers to unique, high-involvement decisions that require thoughtful consideration due to their unfamiliarity and the potentially significant consequences associated with them.
This contrasts with programmed decisions, which are routine and often made quickly, such as deciding between daily beverage choices like milk or orange juice. Buying a house involves intertemporal decision making, because it's an investment decision that affects an individual's life for a long period of time.
It is not typically heuristic-driven as it goes beyond simple rules or shortcuts in decision-making processes. Instead of quickly deciding based on limited information, such as choosing the daily special from a menu, the home buying process commands careful evaluation of numerous factors to ensure the chosen option provides the highest utility and happiness over time.