Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve tried to convince myself to “invest the difference” too, but honestly, watching my mortgage balance shrink ...

Totally get where you’re coming from. Here’s what I keep circling back to: - Jumping in early meant we paid a lot more in PMI than I expected. That s...

- 100% agree, the lender makes a massive difference. - I had one ask for a gift letter for $50 my mom sent me...like, really? - Some just want to ...

- Lenders really do dig into every little thing now. - Had to explain a $30 PayPal from my cousin for pizza night—felt like overkill, but I guess th...

- Totally relate to the “guessing game” vibes. It’s like every time you think you’ve finally got your paperwork straight, there’s a new hoop to jump t...

Totally get what you mean about not stressing the small stuff. That bit about throwing windfalls at the principal—""—really resonates. I do the same a...

Yeah, exactly my thought. Plus, even if you did move, who's to say the next town over won't hike taxes too? I'd probably start looking into local exem...

Good points, but a couple things I'd wonder about: - Would waiting a bit longer improve your credit enough to snag a better interest rate? - Is the m...

Good point, but a couple things to consider: - What if an emergency pops up right after you pay down that chunk? Being cash-strapped can make things w...

I lean toward keeping a decent cash cushion too. A couple years back, I got excited about paying extra on my mortgage every month—felt great seeing th...

Upgrading our HVAC didn't help either—my teens still mess with the thermostat daily. I swear, it's like their life's mission to keep the house either ...