That’s the classic homeowner’s trap, right? I’ve seen so many folks swear they’re out in a couple years, then suddenly they’re repainting the kitchen ...

That’s honestly such a huge factor. I’ve seen people get so stressed over tight budgets that the “cheaper” mortgage ends up costing them in other ways...

Fax machines... I feel your pain. I once had to drive across town just to find a working one because the lender’s “secure portal” was down for mainten...

Yeah, you nailed it—using your home equity loan for actual improvements is usually the ticket if you want that interest deduction. I’ve seen folks sur...

Honestly, it does feel like that sometimes. I’ve seen folks try to push back, but usually it just drags things out. The $75 Venmo thing is classic—und...

Pre-approval really does make all the difference. I’ve seen folks get super excited after a pre-qual letter, only to hit a brick wall once the lender ...

Man, that “needy house” analogy is spot on. Those grant agreements can be so much more restrictive than folks expect. I’ve seen people get blindsided ...

THE FEES JUST KEEP COMING... You nailed it—some of those “miscellaneous” fees make you wonder if they’re just making stuff up as they go. I get that ...

You're spot-on about running your own numbers. I've seen plenty of cases where refinancing looked great at first glance, but once you factor in all th...