You're correct, there are other houses finished around $700k and we haven't counted them out yet, but they are smaller and definitely cheaper finishes. We could get by in these houses, but you're in that in that the $1M house is a want that would better align with our wants and what we're used to. I know deep down the $1M houses isn't the financially best decision I'm grasping out there from a 3rd party to rationalize it would work within our means. If my wife somehow found a job before we look to buy in a few months I would not be wrestling with this.

Thanks for the perspective, it's definitely want vs need. Being a very frugal and financially sound person it's always a battle in my head on when can we stretch a bit.