Mandy Woodruff-Santos

Now, if you really want to buy a house and it is your dream and you love everything that you understand, what goes into it, you understand. Listen, I didn't understand how much property taxes could be. I thought my mortgage was just going to be my mortgage. But you add in property taxes, it just about doubled it. Which was crazy to me.

If you understand maintenance, if you understand how property values can, yes, typically they do go up, but how they can be impacted by things like development and by weather patterns, like global warming is real. If you understand all these things and you still really want to buy a house, then yeah, go get your house. Especially, I mean, like the ultimate thing is can you afford it?

If you understand maintenance, if you understand how property values can, yes, typically they do go up, but how they can be impacted by things like development and by weather patterns, like global warming is real. If you understand all these things and you still really want to buy a house, then yeah, go get your house. Especially, I mean, like the ultimate thing is can you afford it?

If you understand maintenance, if you understand how property values can, yes, typically they do go up, but how they can be impacted by things like development and by weather patterns, like global warming is real. If you understand all these things and you still really want to buy a house, then yeah, go get your house. Especially, I mean, like the ultimate thing is can you afford it?

Of course, mortgage rates. I know they're not cute, right?

Of course, mortgage rates. I know they're not cute, right?

Of course, mortgage rates. I know they're not cute, right?

But they're not as ugly as they could be. Like in the 80s, you know, people were just walking out the door with like double digit interest rates like it was nothing. That was like the norm, right? So they're not great, but they're not the worst they've ever been. What's more difficult these days is inventory.

But they're not as ugly as they could be. Like in the 80s, you know, people were just walking out the door with like double digit interest rates like it was nothing. That was like the norm, right? So they're not great, but they're not the worst they've ever been. What's more difficult these days is inventory.

But they're not as ugly as they could be. Like in the 80s, you know, people were just walking out the door with like double digit interest rates like it was nothing. That was like the norm, right? So they're not great, but they're not the worst they've ever been. What's more difficult these days is inventory.

What I wouldn't do today is because there's such like a dearth of good properties on the market, I wouldn't just buy whatever's there just because you want to buy something. Like I got to get it, you know. I would, if you can, wait. Wait until you find a home that you really like that fits all your needs. It's worth it.

What I wouldn't do today is because there's such like a dearth of good properties on the market, I wouldn't just buy whatever's there just because you want to buy something. Like I got to get it, you know. I would, if you can, wait. Wait until you find a home that you really like that fits all your needs. It's worth it.

What I wouldn't do today is because there's such like a dearth of good properties on the market, I wouldn't just buy whatever's there just because you want to buy something. Like I got to get it, you know. I would, if you can, wait. Wait until you find a home that you really like that fits all your needs. It's worth it.

Look at your credit score because your credit score is going to determine how expensive that mortgage is going to be. And like we're assuming, right, that people are going to be taking out a mortgage. If you got cash to buy a house, that's a whole other conversation.

Look at your credit score because your credit score is going to determine how expensive that mortgage is going to be. And like we're assuming, right, that people are going to be taking out a mortgage. If you got cash to buy a house, that's a whole other conversation.

Look at your credit score because your credit score is going to determine how expensive that mortgage is going to be. And like we're assuming, right, that people are going to be taking out a mortgage. If you got cash to buy a house, that's a whole other conversation.

You want to avoid making any big taking out additional loans six months before you're going to apply for a mortgage because mortgage lenders don't like to see new debt right before they're going to potentially approve you for a loan. Ideally, you're not going to have a fluctuation in income, like household income. So you want to save up for that down payment, of course.

You want to avoid making any big taking out additional loans six months before you're going to apply for a mortgage because mortgage lenders don't like to see new debt right before they're going to potentially approve you for a loan. Ideally, you're not going to have a fluctuation in income, like household income. So you want to save up for that down payment, of course.

You want to avoid making any big taking out additional loans six months before you're going to apply for a mortgage because mortgage lenders don't like to see new debt right before they're going to potentially approve you for a loan. Ideally, you're not going to have a fluctuation in income, like household income. So you want to save up for that down payment, of course.

But also think about also saving up for a few months of your household income just to have it on the side. Another thing to consider is how much do you want to put down for your down payment? There are, if you're a first-time homebuyer, I would absolutely spend time researching first-time homebuyer programs. There are some through the federal government.