How to Avoid Being House Poor (Even When Everyone Says You Can Afford It)

I was talking with a client about his situation. Good income, nice house, and every month still felt tight. Savings never grew. Every repair went on a card. Vacations kept getting pushed to next year. A friend listened to me describe it and said, "You know you're describing being house poor, right?"

How Lenders Actually Count Overtime, Bonus, and Side-Gig Income

A friend of mine, Jason (this is actually his real name, but I think there are too many to know for sure who he is), spent weeks fighting with his lender over money he had actually earned. He works overtime. A lot of it. But the lender he picked did not really understand how his income worked, so Ja

How to Buy and Sell a House at the Same Time (Without Getting Stuck)

A while back I worked with a couple, John and Jane Smith, who were ready to move up. (And I'd be really impressed if you know the movie reference used to protect my client's names.) Good income, plenty of equity, and a house that would sell fast. We found three homes they loved. They missed on the f

What Does It Actually Cost to Own a Home in Year One?

Most first-time buyers spend months focused on two numbers: the down payment and the monthly mortgage payment. They get those right and think they are prepared. Then they move in. And then they find out about everything else. In the fire service, we plan for the 90%, the calls we know are coming, th