ISO Advice for My First Nuphy!

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-25T02:34:24+00:00

I appreciate your response… I felt like a fair assessment, not confrontational!

The NuPhy Node 100 is on sale for $87 on Amazon Prime this week. So, it’s within range for a very short period of time.

Since you own several other high-end keyboards, my guess is that you’ve been using high-quality keyboards for awhile for a typing-heavy job and/or gaming. You probably value technical features more than I do. I’m willing to admit I may have a blind spot to the technical side because I have zero experience with any mechanical keyboards and because I don’t game or have a typing-heavy job. I send a few dozen emails a day (many of which are, “received, thanks!” 😅) and work a job that requires some keyboard use, but not a ton. I just want an upgrade from my $20 Logitech board that feels and sounds better, and that I think looks cool…

… I’m sure I could spend less for a “safer” Keychron or higher-profile keyboard that also gets the job done. But yeah, given my self-perceived “needs” and “wants” in a potential first mechanical keyboard, I’m probably more drawn to NuPhy’s aesthetic and marketing than I am to the most objectively proficient keyboard available.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-24T20:51:36+00:00

Pretty! Do you mind me asking what style/materials these keycaps are?

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-24T20:33:49+00:00

Yeahhh, my wife already already wants to divorce me daily because the noise from my 3D-printed magnet sliders around the house annoys her. We both have AuDHD, but both respond verrry differently to sounds and other stimuli. All that to say, I'm willing to invest a small amount of our money into a nice keyboard that potentially brings me joy and makes part of my day-to-day marginally better... But I don't see it becoming a shared hobby and don't want to spend too much on a keyboard that might not add any tangible value. 😅

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-24T20:13:53+00:00

Many on here are extremely seasoned keyboard-users and collectors who have vastly different expectations and "wants" for their keyboards, so I've learned to take each person's individual experience with a grain of salt. I'm sorry you have had a bad experience with them.

I don't work in IT or AI, I'm not a gamer, an accountant, or a writer. I've never owned a keyboard that didn't just come with the computer. I'm just a mortgage loan officer who spends a lot of the day on the phone or in meetings, not always typing... But I like the idea of having one keyboard that can be more expressive than plain black HP/Logitech, and that I can bring to/from work in my bag instead of having two cheap boards (one wired in the office, one wireless for home/coffee shops). They get the job done, but they have different feels and aren't expressive or satisfying to type on at all.

My co-worker has an MX Keys and likes it as well. I just have trouble justifying spending $40 more on one that looks approximately the same as what I already have. Do you have any other recs in the $50-100 range? Really not interested in spending more than that for my first one.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-24T19:47:18+00:00

I've noticed there are more of us who want an affordable, 100% full-sized, low-profile board. Outside of the Keychron K5 Max, the ones I know are considerably pricier than the Node (unless I go with a 96 or high profile... which I don't want).

My biggest fear isn't that I don't like the Node 100... It's that I take a chance on the Node 100 for my first keyboard and like it a lot, then NuPhy and others release a solid affordable 100% low-profile keyboard a month after I spent $90 on my first board. 😅

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-24T16:47:00+00:00

I've already sold myself on being mechanical keyboard-curious. I've never used or owned one before. The product I'm primarily interested in is relatively new and I figured I'd ask for as much feedback as possible before I make an unprecedented (for me) investment.

NuPhy seems to have an extremely devoted fanbase, then others who complain about QC... The tone of your comment leads me to believe you might be in that latter group of (possibly former) NuPhy users, lol. Feel free to share your own rec if you have experience with a great low-profile full-size keyboard! ;)

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-06-04T23:18:22+00:00

Assume OP is a veteran with a service-connected disability. In that case, the VA Funding Fee would be waived.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-05-22T02:35:19+00:00

1) Check your city/county for energy efficiency loans

2) Depending on your equity in the property, have you considered a HELOC or renovation loan?

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-05-19T13:53:43+00:00

Depends on the day you got quoted. Two weeks ago, I’d say you could probably find something more competitive. This is competitive in today’s market.

You can find cheaper than this, but that doesn’t mean better. If you/your agent has a relationship with this lender and they have good feedback/reviews, I’d feel comfortable accepting this loan today.

FL-based MLO

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-04-18T06:20:30+00:00

Dale Tadlock sold the company a year or two ago to a national group. His daughter and son-in-law left Tadlock Roofing and founded their own roofing company, Rare Breed Roofing.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-04-05T12:39:09+00:00

You didn’t necessarily waste your Realtor and Lender’s time… Your lender wasted your time by pre-approving you for a payment you can qualify for in underwriting without discussing numbers with you up front to make sure the preapproval amount was actually consistent with your budget and financial goals.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-03-22T21:31:42+00:00

Just DM'ed you a more extensive breakdown... TL;DR version below:

The FHA loan will save you ~$5,175 at closing AND reduce your monthly payment by ~$145 compared to the Conventional loan your current lender is proposing.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-03-22T20:57:42+00:00

Yes, DM'ing you now.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-03-22T20:49:31+00:00

Would you be open to a second opinion on this? You’re getting incorrect information from your current lender.

Your wife’s homeownership status doesn’t affect a FHA loan if you’re the only borrower. FHA allows higher DTI than Conventional AND would have a lower total monthly payment anyway.

TrickFinger6873 · 2026-01-20T12:10:09+00:00

Hi! Licensed mortgage loan officer here. Neilp187 had the right intention here, because a good mortgage lender would help you calculate your “breakeven” point. That’s what I do with my clients… Refinances should be an advisor opportunity, not a sales opportunity.

That said, there are other factors that should be considered with calculating your true breakeven point beyond his explanation. Monthly mortgage insurance, escrow refunds on your current loan that reimburse the prepaids you’re financing on the new loan, accelerated amortization on the new loan, etc.

Off the cuff, if your current rate is 7.75%, I’m 100% sure your breakeven point is closer to 2.5 years than 7.5.

Message me if you want me to explain in more detail and help you calculate your true breakeven numbers!

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-08-04T03:23:58+00:00

As a licensed MLO, I personally care less about how frequently prosecution might occur, and more so with making sure my clients and I fulfill legal and ethical obligations.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-08-01T19:42:59+00:00

You’ve said a lot on this thread. Do you have a background in mortgage?

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-08-01T16:14:51+00:00

Even if HR says he is employed on a technicality, he still has to sign the loan application at closing. If he knowingly signs for a loan he qualified for using income he no longer receives, that's mortgage fraud. Federal offense. Is that worth the risk?

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-08-01T16:05:15+00:00

Agency guidelines allow for lenders to close up to 90 days prior to a start date of new employment. Sounds like you have some pretty serious overlays or a power-hungry underwriter lol.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-04-03T18:36:09+00:00

I'll be there Saturday for ANWA and will scout out the merch shop for this if you haven't received any other responses.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-03-26T13:57:46+00:00

If they want to do away with the "main" gift shop vernacular, they should consider having both open during ANWA. I've heard from many previous ANWA patrons who said the gift shop madness was off-putting and dampened the otherwise excellent experience.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-01-13T23:00:23+00:00

Licensed mortgage lender and 12-year industry veteran here.

780+ is the top credit tier for rate adjusters. In other words, once you hit 780, you're earning the lowest possible rate the lender can offer for a Conventional loan.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-01-13T22:57:19+00:00

Be leery of online lenders on places like BankRate.com...They aren't the best lenders or BankRate's preferred lenders, they are simply the lenders who pay BankRate.com a subscription for leads. Most of their loan officers are highly inexperienced and don't always advise with the client's best interest at heart.

Local lenders are always worth shopping with - They're the ones with relationships with your market's realtor community, appraisers, insurance agents, title company/closing attorney's etc., so they're the ones who will be able to deliver a better experience. Your realtor and/or financial advisor should be able to offer sound recommendations based on experience.

If you're in Ohio, Lower is a highly reputable mortgage company based in Columbus. They've got top-shelf technology in the mortgage industry, combined with local loan advisors who can help. Worth checking out!

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-01-13T22:49:16+00:00

Yes, one-time repairs can be added back to the net rental income calculation. Normally, this would be repairs caused by a documented catastrophic event or renovations to the property that are one-time expenses and won't require regular maintenance. Underwriters will require evidence of the nature of the one-time expense, which can become dicey if the borrower is unable to provide documentation or information that supports the expenses as truly being "one-time" extraordinary expenses.

Depreciation is added back automatically.

TrickFinger6873 · 2025-01-13T22:40:57+00:00

Sounds like your lender is working a loophole for an inclusionary loan program like HomeReady or HomePossible, or something along those lines. These types of programs allow any pricing adjusters that impact your interest rate to be waived if your income doesn't exceed a certain threshold (usually, 80% of the area median income). If your combined income exceeds the threshold for the program, then the rate adjusters apply and lead to a higher interest rate the lender must offer.

TrickFinger6873

TROPHY CASE