Had a client who locked in just before a big drop once—he kicked himself for weeks, but six months later when rates shot up, he felt like a genius. You nailed it about peace of mind... can't put a price on sleeping easy.
Timing the market is always a bit of a gamble. I've seen folks sweat bullets right after locking in, only to breathe easy months down the road. Had one myself where I was convinced I'd jumped too soon—then watched rates climb steadily afterward. Lesson learned: if the numbers make sense and you're comfortable with the payment, lock it down and don't look back. Chasing perfect timing will just drive you nuts... peace of mind is worth way more than a couple decimal points.
Totally agree with your take on this. Isn't it funny how hindsight always makes us feel smarter? I've seen friends agonize over tiny rate differences, only to realize later it barely impacted their monthly budget. You're spot-on about peace of mind—it's underrated. Curious though, did you find yourself checking rates obsessively after locking, or were you able to tune it out pretty easily? I know some folks can't resist peeking...
"Curious though, did you find yourself checking rates obsessively after locking, or were you able to tune it out pretty easily?"
Guilty as charged—I definitely peeked a few times after locking in my own rate. It's like checking your phone after sending a risky text...you know you shouldn't, but curiosity gets the better of you. Eventually, I realized it was just stressing me out unnecessarily. Now I advise clients to lock it, forget it, and enjoy the peace of mind. Easier said than done, though, right?
Honestly, I took the opposite approach. Once I locked in my rate, I forced myself to stop checking altogether. Learned that lesson the hard way during my first home purchase—spent weeks second-guessing myself and driving my spouse nuts with "what ifs." This time around, I figured if it was good enough to lock, it was good enough to let go. Saved me a ton of unnecessary stress...but yeah, easier said than done for sure.
