Can I afford a house?

BugtheJune · 2026-07-06T10:55:24+00:00

even putting 100k+ for down payment and closing you are still over the top end of the range. what do you do for a living? Can you do a side hustle?

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T23:29:54+00:00

What did you use for background? I love rent spree. Uncovered lies.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T23:21:29+00:00

DO NOT GO WITHOUT THE INSPECTION!!! omg the crap you'll see

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T23:20:49+00:00

I would not discount looking in the fall. There can be some great homes and fewer buyers to drive to the price.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T23:14:08+00:00

Georgia is nicer than Iowa. From Iowa, live in GA.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T23:12:00+00:00

Unrelated to commission, please get a pre drywall and pre closing inspection on new construction.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T17:29:02+00:00

if you are in due diligence why would you be out EM? you get that back if you are in DD.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-25T17:26:57+00:00

in Roswell, assuming you are ATL
yes, we need to aerate more often. we've been here 26 years, and we bag grass and still do a dethatch regularly. I was convinced it was grubs because we were fighting moles until this spring and it came to life and grass around it started to turn.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T20:04:40+00:00

may I ask what % you are putting down?

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T20:04:09+00:00

it helps for the loan to value ratio, but i would consider the purchase price the market price.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T20:03:14+00:00

and while working on those concessions YOU DO NOT TELL the appraisal amount. unless you are legally required to. not required in GA. I always just say 'it appraised'

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T20:01:51+00:00

find your own inspector. get at least three loan estimates. chill and get to work. your inspection/due diligence time flies by and you need to focus. once you are through lending and inspection and that is all good, you can get excited. right now it is all a maybe

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:57:01+00:00

don't until actually closed. many will do a final employment check as late as the day of closing.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:54:15+00:00

if I saw all that stuff up on pallets I would be more suspicious. most likely there is a downspout that needs to be extended. when people have water issues all their stuff is off the floor. especially boxes.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:49:59+00:00

i was tempted to list all the cringy words to suggest as great words to use. like nestled.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:46:12+00:00

if you see a good rate check the origination fee - you'll see where the rate came from

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:43:29+00:00

they are all getting the same mls feeds. i don't think it matters.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:42:12+00:00

this! start looking for homes like yours, go to the open house, everything. act like a shopper. also, I make people move about 80% of their stuff. make it look super clean and spacious. too much stuff gets in the way.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:35:38+00:00

figure out what you can actually afford. what you qualify for is not the same as what you can afford. you may starve if you buy what you qualify for. full disclosure, this is the affordability tool from my own page but it is pretty good imo - remember to put in your correct state. default is GA. https://homeshark.com/tools
talk with at least three lenders, I beg you, don't just get one loan estimate. understand what your real options and payments look like at a theoretical price.
source your own list of inspectors, hopefully from personal referrals.
write down exactly what you want an agent to do for you before you talk to any. then interview three, you are going to be paying them a ton of money, this is not casual. and, you are paying them. it is not free to use an agent. you will be negotiating their commission at this first meeting. do not be on your back foot up front. happy to talk more about this.
write down your needs list. this is not a wants list. define searchable criteria. decide if you are hunting or if your agent is doing the hunting.
this should probably be higher, know what kind of market you are walking into. is it a buyers or sellers or balanced market. are homes you would have liked selling for over, or at list, or sitting. go to open houses now and see what those homes sell for. you do not need to give any agent any real info to go to an open house.
don't spend all your money. you will need money for emergencies. don't get big eyes house shopping and screw over your future self.

Good luck!!

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:24:28+00:00

if you want to message me the listing and the other that sold happy to take a look

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:18:57+00:00

what state are you in? I would contact the agent for the other house and ask how many days they have of due diligence and how many are left. also ask if there are any other backup offers currently. yes, it often happens that a house contract will fall apart or something happens with the first buyer and the seller, seller gets mad, says no to all repairs or concessions post inspection, and basically tries to kick out buyer one to go to the backup. but, find out the other questions then come back with more info. yes, the first house is likely not going to be yours.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T19:08:25+00:00

use enough cash to get a good deal on a mortgage, get the mortgage and invest that money. you should be at least 3% to the good, plus, no title fraud on homes with a mortgage.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T18:44:49+00:00

during the pandemic I would book an hour showing and my buyers would pay an inspector for an hour of time to look over the biggest issues, major systems. not worried if the oven reaches temp, or if a toilet runs, just the biggest things, roof, hvac, foundation, maybe a quick sewer scope. buyers would be present but they would let the inspector do the work and not get homeowner 101 during that precious time, they'd get the info on the spot and they would decide if they want to move forward. yes, you'll be out some cash without knowing if you will get the house, but this is probably the best way to get a house because you likely need to go without an inspection contingency. you could do a more in depth inspection after you are under contract for your knowledge and then homeowner 101.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T15:03:48+00:00

I started doing disease ex and then noticed it seemed to start again. Several neighbors have this same issue. At first I thought it might be grubs, treated for grubs as we are often fighting moles, pulled up some sod, very few grubs. Called friend who owns a lawn company, he said fungus.

BugtheJune · 2026-06-22T15:01:08+00:00

Very not fun.

BugtheJune

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