Mandy Woodruff-Santos

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.

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.

Look at your monthly income. Look at it, guys. Post-tax. And look at maybe 25% to 35% of it. If you live in a more high-cost area, it just may be more realistic to look at that 30% to 40% range, and even up to 50%. And that's what I would cap your monthly housing expenses at.

Look at your monthly income. Look at it, guys. Post-tax. And look at maybe 25% to 35% of it. If you live in a more high-cost area, it just may be more realistic to look at that 30% to 40% range, and even up to 50%. And that's what I would cap your monthly housing expenses at.

Look at your monthly income. Look at it, guys. Post-tax. And look at maybe 25% to 35% of it. If you live in a more high-cost area, it just may be more realistic to look at that 30% to 40% range, and even up to 50%. And that's what I would cap your monthly housing expenses at.

I mean, the worst thing you can do is buy a property and then end up getting into it and all your bills start hitting and you're like, wait, what? Right. Like, how am I supposed to afford all of this? And then you're you're stopping investing or stopping, you know, contributing to your savings account and debt starts getting not paid back. And then you're just in a real difficult position.

I mean, the worst thing you can do is buy a property and then end up getting into it and all your bills start hitting and you're like, wait, what? Right. Like, how am I supposed to afford all of this? And then you're you're stopping investing or stopping, you know, contributing to your savings account and debt starts getting not paid back. And then you're just in a real difficult position.

I mean, the worst thing you can do is buy a property and then end up getting into it and all your bills start hitting and you're like, wait, what? Right. Like, how am I supposed to afford all of this? And then you're you're stopping investing or stopping, you know, contributing to your savings account and debt starts getting not paid back. And then you're just in a real difficult position.

Duh. No, listen, homeownership, yes, a home can be a vessel for, you know, increasing equity and building wealth. And that's true, but it is not the only game in town. Like, ever heard of index funds, mutual funds? You should be investing through your 401k. And in fact, like, no one can predict the market, right? No one can predict.

Duh. No, listen, homeownership, yes, a home can be a vessel for, you know, increasing equity and building wealth. And that's true, but it is not the only game in town. Like, ever heard of index funds, mutual funds? You should be investing through your 401k. And in fact, like, no one can predict the market, right? No one can predict.

Duh. No, listen, homeownership, yes, a home can be a vessel for, you know, increasing equity and building wealth. And that's true, but it is not the only game in town. Like, ever heard of index funds, mutual funds? You should be investing through your 401k. And in fact, like, no one can predict the market, right? No one can predict.

I could not have predicted that I would have bought one of the last homes in this country It feels like that because there's such low inventory where I am. And so, yes, my home value has gone up something nuts. I think my house was valued at $400,000. We bought it for $445,000. Now it's worth like $700,000 or something. Wow. It's not, though. I don't know.

I could not have predicted that I would have bought one of the last homes in this country It feels like that because there's such low inventory where I am. And so, yes, my home value has gone up something nuts. I think my house was valued at $400,000. We bought it for $445,000. Now it's worth like $700,000 or something. Wow. It's not, though. I don't know.

I could not have predicted that I would have bought one of the last homes in this country It feels like that because there's such low inventory where I am. And so, yes, my home value has gone up something nuts. I think my house was valued at $400,000. We bought it for $445,000. Now it's worth like $700,000 or something. Wow. It's not, though. I don't know.

People be buying houses out here for way too much money. I just can't. You will not catch me dropping $700,000. You should see what a million-dollar home is these days. It is depressing. Yeah, yeah. So you can absolutely invest in the stock market, invest in your 401k, max out your Roth IRA, invest in yourself. Can we make that normal again? And I don't mean go get a brand new degree.

People be buying houses out here for way too much money. I just can't. You will not catch me dropping $700,000. You should see what a million-dollar home is these days. It is depressing. Yeah, yeah. So you can absolutely invest in the stock market, invest in your 401k, max out your Roth IRA, invest in yourself. Can we make that normal again? And I don't mean go get a brand new degree.

People be buying houses out here for way too much money. I just can't. You will not catch me dropping $700,000. You should see what a million-dollar home is these days. It is depressing. Yeah, yeah. So you can absolutely invest in the stock market, invest in your 401k, max out your Roth IRA, invest in yourself. Can we make that normal again? And I don't mean go get a brand new degree.

I mean, what do you value in life? Do those things. One of the myths that I kind of fell into when I became a homeowner was that you would have these tax benefits of being a homeowner. That really changed with the 2017 Jobs Tax and Jobs Cut Act, whatever Trump put in effect back then.

I mean, what do you value in life? Do those things. One of the myths that I kind of fell into when I became a homeowner was that you would have these tax benefits of being a homeowner. That really changed with the 2017 Jobs Tax and Jobs Cut Act, whatever Trump put in effect back then.

I mean, what do you value in life? Do those things. One of the myths that I kind of fell into when I became a homeowner was that you would have these tax benefits of being a homeowner. That really changed with the 2017 Jobs Tax and Jobs Cut Act, whatever Trump put in effect back then.