"Life happens—job changes, family stuff—and you can't always predict your timeline accurately."
Totally agree with this. As a first-time buyer, I'm leaning toward flexibility over upfront savings. Curious though, did anyone factor in potential home value appreciation when deciding on points? Seems like that could shift the math a bit...
You're spot on about flexibility—life loves throwing curveballs, doesn't it? When I bought my first place, I obsessed over appreciation and points math too. But honestly, trying to predict home values is like guessing next week's weather...you might get close, but don't bet your umbrella on it. I'd say trust your gut, keep some wiggle room, and remember: no spreadsheet ever survived contact with reality.
Haha, totally feel you on the spreadsheet thing...mine usually ends up as a coaster for my coffee mug. One trick I learned when refinancing: boost your credit score first—just a few points higher can seriously sweeten the deal. Worked wonders for me!
Totally agree—people underestimate how much a small bump in credit score can help. Even just paying down a bit of debt or disputing an error can make a noticeable difference. Glad it worked out for you... spreadsheets aside, haha.
"Even just paying down a bit of debt or disputing an error can make a noticeable difference."
Couldn't agree more. I remember obsessively tracking my credit score when refinancing last year—felt like watching paint dry, honestly. But then I noticed this random medical bill that wasn't even mine (seriously, never broke my leg skiing... I'm way too cautious for that 😂). Disputed it, got it removed, and boom—score jumped enough to snag a better rate. Sometimes it's those little details that save you thousands in the long run.
