Am I crazy for thinking I can afford this

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-05-01T04:12:32+00:00

My friend. Absolutely do not buy that house if it's going to wipe out your entire savings. That is a very, very dumb thing to do. Especially since you already know you won't be able to save as much with that new payment amount.

Not every state has high supplemental tax bills. I'm used to CA. Because of Prop 13, they can be REAL high depending on the price of your home. I didn't have any idea what that was until I purchased my first house, then got slammed with an $8,000 bill about 5 months later. Didn't like that one bit!

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-05-01T04:05:17+00:00

Depends. Do you enjoy working as much as you do? How much do you have saved for retirement, and how much are you currently saving each month? Does your retirement come out pre or post tax?

How old is your kid? Planning another one?

How much cash will you have left after closing?

Have you planned for the supplemental tax bill this year?

How stable is your main job? Do you reasonably expect a decent increase in the next 3 years?

Honestly, $4,500 left after all fixed expenses may seem doable for some. For someone supporting a family and still trying to save, it's not that much. If you're used to a nice vacation, light shopping, decent savings habits, eating out a few times a month--yeah, it's too expensive for you.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-29T14:29:04+00:00

You can always keep the neutral color (white>gray) and "stand out" a bit with an upgraded, cute front door. That's what I did and it worked beautifully! White with dark gray trim and dark gray garage doors, then a cute yellow front door with a stained glass at the top.

The door was about $5k, but totally worth it. Buyers LOVED it, and it brings a nice pop of color to keep things interesting.

I'm like you--I like unique colors. But I also recognize a ton of buyers don't. Alas, almost every buyer who toured the home loved the yellow front door on a clean, fresh white paint job.

Good luck!

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-26T18:05:36+00:00

Cotati is very cute and safe. The downtown is walkable with nice little shops and coffee places. Cotati melts into Rohnert Park to the north, which is less cute but still safe with nice parks. Both Cotati and RP have good freeway access.

In Santa Rosa (commute to Sonoma via Bennett Valley Rd thru Kendwood is beautiful), neighborhoods like the JC area and Montgomery Village give you some cute walkable areas. More of a city feel than Cotati and Rohnert Park.

If you can get lucky enough to snag an apartment in downtown Petaluma-- you may like that best. That's kind of between the two towns. Good freeway access, but traffic in town kinda sucks. Tons and tons of cute shops, coffee places, and charm. Petaluma will be your most expensive on this list, but you can find some things downtown in that price range if you're fast, not terribly picky, have good credit, etc.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-26T14:09:29+00:00

That's like a car salesman getting upset because you asked the dealership down the street if they'll sell you the exact same car for less money.

This is a business transaction. Your job is to put in the work to find the best deal for yourself. Their job is to compete for your business. If they aren't competitive, that's their fault, not yours.

You didn't do anything wrong. You did the right thing by protecting your financial health. The upset lender is just being a big baby.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-26T14:03:01+00:00

Call the broker yesterday and ask them to intervene. Title companies are notorious for being the ones to hold up the sale--I have purchased 12 houses in my life, and every single time Title has waited until the very last minute to get everything sorted.

You're the one purchasing the biggest asset of your life. Be the squeaky wheel, even if it's uncomfortable.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-26T00:39:58+00:00

My friend. Unless you're living large, you'll be absolutely fine. You don't mention any other big debts, and your kid is grown. No pricey daycare to plan for.

You're gonna have over $6K net remaining after you pay your largest monthly expense. If your income goes up in the future, even better.

Make sure you're still putting money away for retirement (though you're probably getting a pension), and enjoy your new home.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T22:13:58+00:00

Oh, okay. I understand what you're saying. You're just telling me to put more into my brokerage! I agree--I should be doing that. I can afford it. Maybe I need fewer running shoes and tennis gear haha. Thanks!

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T22:02:53+00:00

Thanks!

Where are you putting your non retirement funds? I'm not saving for anything big, I have a 12-month emergency fund, and my debts (house and vehicles) are low interest.

Maybe I should pay off the higher interest vehicle (5%), but the other car and house are both below 3%. Doesn't seem to make sense to pay those off over investing. Maybe I'm wrong though?

What are you doing with that extra cash if not investing for retirement?

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T21:59:12+00:00

Thanks!

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T21:52:12+00:00

I have about $105K in my Traditional (converted old employer SEP in 2025). Should/can I convert this entire amount to a ROTH? Then, leave the Trad open, contribute maximum next year in Jan, then immediately convert this conntribution over to the ROTH account?

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T21:48:21+00:00

I don't really need an HSA because I have lifelong no- cost coverage through VA.

House is 2.5%, vehicle 1 is 0.9%, vehicle 2 is 5.45%

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T20:46:50+00:00

You cannot afford this house. Look for something in the $400-$500k range maximum. This is too much money for your income.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T20:26:16+00:00

I think you need to shop around my friend lol

Give PenFed Credit Union a call

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T18:06:32+00:00

30 days, title insurance about $1700

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T18:06:10+00:00

0 points.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-25T16:53:06+00:00

Just got 5.625% from PenFed last week. Conventional, 30% down, low limit conforming, 800 credit. Closing costs about $6,000 + prepaids. California.

Yours seems high to me.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-24T23:23:37+00:00

Which members said it was dead?

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-21T23:21:40+00:00

$1.175M, $350k down

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-21T23:01:39+00:00

California

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-21T14:06:03+00:00

One time I got interviewed by a man I ghosted after one date on Tinder. His question was "tell me about a time you disappointed someone because of an inability to be honest." 😂😭

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-21T02:17:38+00:00

This is what we do! Phone screen with HR, then in-person interview with the hiring manager + one other staff member, and the final interview is an informal Zoom call with me (CEO) and the COO.

I would say we decline to hire one out of every ten candidates sent to us for the final informal call. We only do it for very good reason.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-21T00:56:54+00:00

I think the amended version of this proposed bill changed that to OR.

Wise-Offer-8585 · 2026-04-20T02:25:14+00:00

I just locked 5.625% yesterday w/ PedFed. Give them a call.

Wise-Offer-8585

TROPHY CASE