How Much House Can I Really Afford Without Feeling House-Poor? 🏠💸
A grounded, no-nonsense guide to buying a home that supports your life instead of squeezing it Introduction Almost everyone asks the same question when house hunting, even if they phrase it differently. Can I afford this… and still breathe? The bank says yes. The mortgage calculator says yes. The real estate listing whispers yes in a seductive font. But a quiet voice in your head keeps asking whether you’ll still enjoy weekends, dinners out, travel, or surprise expenses once the keys are in your hand. That voice is wise. Being house-poor is not about bankruptcy or missed payments. It’s about owning a beautiful place while quietly resenting it because it eats every spare dollar and ounce of flexibility. This article walks through how to figure out what you can truly afford without turning your home into a financial cage. No hype. No sugar-coating. Just clarity. What “House-Poor” Really Means House-poor doesn’t always show up as panic. Sometimes it looks like subtle stre...