BUY OR BOLT
THE REAL COST OF HOME
Afford the house.
Keep the life.
Buying a home can change what you spend, what you save, and how soon you reach other goals. These guides help you work through those choices before you commit to a payment.
Before you buy
Work out what you can spend without emptying your savings.
Why we chose the more expensive home
A $600K versus $785K decision, and the $500 monthly savings tradeoff our founder and his wife accepted.
LIFE FITWhat “house poor” actually looks like
It is rarely one dramatic moment. It is a hundred smaller choices the payment starts making for you.
PRICE TARGETComfortable price vs. maximum price
What each target protects, and what you give up as the price rises.
CASH AFTER CLOSINGShould you put 20% down or keep more cash?
A smaller payment matters. So does having savings left for repairs, surprises, and life after the move.
LENDER LENSHow mortgage DTI works
What lenders count, what they leave out, and why qualifying is not the same as having a payment you’re comfortable with.
Understand the payment
Know what is included, what can change, and which estimates to replace.
What PMI costs your monthly budget
What the charge covers, when it may end, and whether avoiding it is worth using more of your cash.
HOME INSURANCEBudget beyond the insurance average
Compare real quotes, understand the deductible, and see what a higher premium leaves for the rest of your life.
MONTHLY COSTThe real monthly cost of owning a home
Principal and interest are only the beginning. Here is what belongs in the full number.
LOCAL COSTSHow property taxes change affordability
The same home price can create a very different payment from one ZIP code to the next.
UPKEEPHow much to budget for maintenance
A useful reserve is less about a perfect percentage and more about the house in front of you.
PAYMENT SURPRISESYour rate is fixed. Why did the payment rise?
How taxes, insurance, and escrow shortages can change what you owe each month.
Protect your future
Weigh investing, rate changes, and the assumptions behind your plan.
How a home can affect retirement investing
The monthly tradeoff can look modest now and become meaningful after decades of compounding.
RATES & REAL LIFEHow Fed rates affect mortgages and home prices
A rate cut does not always mean a cheaper home. Here is how bond yields and mortgage pricing reach your monthly budget.
BUYING DECISIONSCan you count on refinancing later?
What to check before a hoped-for lower payment becomes the reason you buy.
BETTER ESTIMATESWhy affordability calculators disagree
Different definitions, hidden assumptions, and the question each calculator is actually answering.
Start with your own numbers.
The guides explain the tradeoffs. The calculator puts them against the home you are actually considering.