Totally agree, lenders and appraisers can be way more particular than you'd expect. A few things I've noticed from my own experience and conversations...

Couldn't agree more on the self-education part. A few months back, I double-checked my assessment and found they'd listed an extra bathroom I definite...

You're right about the exemption being pretty generous, but from personal experience, it can still get tricky. When my parents gifted equity to my bro...

Good points here. A couple things I'd add from experience: - Banks aren't charities, true, but they're not always out to rip you off either. They're ...

Had a similar issue last year—felt like playing whack-a-mole with docs. Honestly, I think some lenders just stall hoping you'll give up. Keep copies o...

Had a similar experience when I replaced my windows a few years back. Sure, the house felt cozier and quieter, but did it drastically cut my energy bi...

Totally agree—strict budgeting sounds great on paper, but life rarely cooperates. A few thoughts from experience: - Buffers are key. I learned the ha...

Yeah, that's been my experience too. A couple things I've noticed: - Some lenders flat-out avoid mixed-use properties because they're harder to resel...

Yeah, lenders can be weirdly dramatic about income-based plans...seen it myself. Consolidation does help simplify things, even if it's mostly optics. ...