23/08/2026
This is exactly why we have a ‘monthly payment’ discussion up front BEFORE issuing a pre-approval letter. Sometimes expectations need to be adjusted before looking at homes you you get the right monthly payment!
I tell my clients all the time, there are expenses you have that I don’t see. And “I’m not making this payment every month, you are so it need sit be comfortable for you”.
It’s a quick conversation!
One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a house is asking the bank how much they can afford.
The bank is telling you how much they’re willing to LEND you.
Those are two very different numbers.
Because the bank doesn’t care that you still want to take vacations.
They don’t care that your car eventually needs to be replaced.
They don’t care that you want to invest, save for retirement, help your kids, eat out occasionally, or have enough breathing room that one surprise expense doesn’t wreck the month.
They’re looking at income, debt, credit, and underwriting guidelines.
And lenders can approve debt-to-income ratios that would make a lot of people feel house poor REALLY fast.
Especially with mortgage rates still sitting around the mid-6% range.
I’ve always believed your house payment should leave room for an actual LIFE.
So before you fall in love with the $600,000 house because somebody says you’re “approved” for it, run your own numbers.
Figure out what the mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA, maintenance, and everything else will actually cost you every month.
Then ask yourself if you still like your life after making that payment.
Because the bank might approve it.
They’re not the ones making the payment every month.
YOU ARE.