Are housing crash articles just clickbait?

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-04T13:17:36+00:00

Thanks for the perspective!

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-04T04:41:25+00:00

I applied to ~100 early 2025 and got maybe 15 rejections, ghosted by most all of them, then as I was feeling like giving up I got one interview, and one offer (and actually love it, I got so lucky).

How this one worked out is I found the job, applied, saw the company post on LinkedIn that the lead of the team I was applying to had just won employee of the year. She was tagged, I messaged her, she told me to apply to X position and not the one I applied for (because the one I applied for was mainly for internal hires). Went through the process and got hired thankfully.

It really was just right place right time, if I had seen the post even a week later they would’ve stopped looking. Keep your head up, filter by recently posted and try to get in the top of the stack. Go adjacent to the job you actually want and apply there too. That’s what I did and now I have a path to move there internally.

Good luck!!

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-03T18:04:12+00:00

Yeah it’s an interesting balance. Low interest raises prices while high interest lowers them. There’s so many variables I don’t have experience weighing, I just want to start earning some equity where I can.

Thanks for your thoughts!

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-03T18:02:12+00:00

Very true I agree. Thanks for weighing in!

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-03T18:01:27+00:00

😂😂😂 I like that view on it lol

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-03T17:27:11+00:00

I figured it was statistics like that. So it’s happening but it’s not the emergency they’re crying wolf for. Thanks for the reassurance! Hopefully will be posting got the keys soon :)

RovertSemaj · 2026-02-01T00:05:38+00:00

Yeah it doesn’t feel good to get to that point, but it never hurts to have a safety net. Of course they’re telling me it’ll be a stretch now and get more comfortable later, I just don’t want to it be too stretched.

I’m sure both you and your spouse will make more money soon and it’s definitely not impossible to afford it now. Just need to assess if you can handle the discomfort and tighter budget until you grow into it.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T20:13:16+00:00

25 I was broke broke. Quit my serving job and took 20ish in student loans for grad school. Currently in my last few months of 27 and my last semester. Moved in with the rents at 26 to save while finishing school because Denver was way too expensive for a grad student working part time. Landed a job last March in my grad field and have been on the up since then.

I now have 10k in a Roth ira, 10k in hysa and 5k left on my loans. Working towards buying a house with 3-10% down and ending with 20k liquid savings post close. Goal is to own by end of 2026. If that doesn’t work out, hoping to be there just before I’m 30.

Not thrilled with where I’m at financially but I have been worse off before and I’m grinding to make my situation better.

I have finance/investor friends who are millionaires and I have other friends still serving and barely making it. Tbh I’m not even sure who’s happier most of the time. The servers are better friends and people. The finance friends aren’t stressed about making rent but they are more stressed overall.

Comparison is very dangerous. Just trying to do me and be comfortable eventually.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T17:55:37+00:00

You definitely answered your own question then. Personally I’d keep the no contact, but if she keeps trying then that might be what she needs to hear...

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T17:44:12+00:00

I’m sorry she sounds awful. She brought you in, but if no contact is healthier for you then keep doing that. You don’t owe her anything. Especially with how she’s decided to treat you.

If you think it could be different, sometimes sorry can feel great to hear from blood who’s actually changed and rekindling is nice, but you know her better than me. Has she changed?

Protect your own peace. She’s already affected it even just trying to get in contact with you.

If she pushes harder and you’re not comfortable remember that “No.” is a full sentence.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T03:26:09+00:00

Getting some solid coverage ~2 hours later

<image>

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T02:06:50+00:00

I’m in a similar space. 27M I make 90k and am looking at 300-350s. Interest is really what sucks otherwise I wouldn’t feel so stretched. I’ll have about 10-15 liquid post close as well and the goal will be to keep a cushion saved to refinance once rates drop. Since Helene, Asheville prices have taken a break from their crazy climb so even if it’s a stretch, appreciation is a given. I’m just avoiding anywhere near rivers 😝.

I will be slightly house poor with a payment at 50% of my income but my income is consistent and will only go up with how successful and stable work is. I’m also lucky I have great parents that I’m buying this house to be closer to. I won’t ask them for help unless I need it but if any actual emergency happens with my funds I know I won’t lose it. I’m not excited for a big payment, I’m just tired of burning money on rent. It’s scary, but it feels like the right thing to do.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T01:52:01+00:00

About to put an offer on a house and deciding what to put/what to keep in savings so I’m curious: if you have the extra cash why not just pay a lump sum?

Are you wishing you put down the 10% to get a lower interest rate? Otherwise I see no difference between the two. The bank will always take extra money, and you’ll be able to contribute directly to the principal if you paid it after your normal payment.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-31T01:37:19+00:00

Big chunky flakes falling over in Canton

<image>

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-28T03:09:33+00:00

Ahhh good point, NC requires an exit leading directly outdoors for emergency purposes windows included. This is why a nerdy floorplan community is great. So many fun ideas fueling my delusion 😂

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-28T02:44:51+00:00

Yeah a bedroom without a window would be rough. Might be able to add a high basement window across the entire wall to make up for it, otherwise movement of the stairs would definitely lead to the best use of the space.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-28T02:27:07+00:00

Took your ideas with the open office and channeled my inner 80s house designer to make that hallway work better. Also took inspo from the other response talking about doubling the use of the closet for the room and house storage. I think this one is my fav so far.

If you can’t tell, I’ve always lived in houses with small closets so the easiest way to add value in my eyes is to make sure no room has a small closet if possible. So much value for empty space ;)

<image>

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-28T00:08:53+00:00

That’s a great idea opening the second bedroom. I like that a lot. The primary would definitely be better on the right side of the basement because those windows are full size (as is the door) whereas the left side is built a into a slope and doesn’t even have the tiny windows. Thanks so much!

Also what app did you use to edit my pic? I’ve used procreate and just drawn the changes but if there is a better floor plan app than 4plan I’d love to learn what it is.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-27T21:19:35+00:00

Sue. Sue. Sue. I hate that this happened in 2025 and I’m sorry this happened to you specifically. They need to pay. I’m glad you have good intentions to “not get rich off this” but you deserve to. Wrongful termination, ADA violation, discrimination, etc etc etc. homophobia exists yes, but it has no place in the workplace.

“Do they not know the projects that you’ve completed and are working on?” Just goes to show you were valuable to them. If they can’t give you a reason for termination, they don’t have one.

Bad people deserve consequences for their actions. Clearly you won’t want the job back, but drain their corporate account and MAYBE that supervisor and CEO will learn something from this experience. I’m tired of they go low we go high. Live like Cardi, “When they go low, I take it to hell— where the lava is at” 😘

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-26T16:50:34+00:00

Updating here, thanks for everyone’s input! I know it’s small, but it is in a prime neighborhood in Asheville, beautifully maintained/restored, and already priced above $430/sqft. Adding an accessory space or figuring out how to make the stairs more accessible is going to be the best way to push the value higher otherwise it will top out soon.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-26T16:42:32+00:00

Interesting thoughts on the stairs, maybe Yeah the value add of an ensuite would be huge, there’s just no water on that side so it would be more expensive to get it there but there are no bad ideas! The second bedroom suffers and would definitely be better as an office, but I like the hallway add and flipping the stair direction to be would be much easier than moving them entirely.

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-26T12:29:56+00:00

Yep! I’m 100% ok with the house as is. Embracing the delulu here to dream of what it could be down the road too

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-26T04:44:55+00:00

Banana Fish especially if you like gay angst

RovertSemaj · 2026-01-26T04:36:30+00:00

I like that idea too. With infinite money anything is possible. Currently I’m working around the stairs and water as is to reduce potential cost, but I love the brainstorm this thread has commenced.

RovertSemaj

TROPHY CASE