Definitely second the point about keeping those expenses separate. When I refinanced last year, my tax guy was all over me about what the loan was act...

- 100% agree—boring can be a lifesaver. - I refinanced into a fixed after my ARM reset way higher than I expected. That “temporary” low payment felt g...

Pre-approval really does make a difference, especially when you’re refinancing and juggling timelines. A few quick thoughts: - Sellers want certainty...

- Couldn’t agree more—tracking your own numbers is just survival mode at this point. - I refinanced last year and thought I had everything nailed down...

Went through this exact circus when I refinanced last year. Here’s what stood out for me: - Every single deposit over $100 got flagged. I had to dig ...

Yeah, those “no closing cost” deals sound good until you look at the numbers. When I refinanced last year, I almost took one of those offers—looked gr...

- I get that, but here’s what I learned after refinancing last year: - Rates can drop, but home prices rarely do in North Texas. Waiting might mean ...

Great points all around. A couple things I'd add from my own experience: - Definitely agree PMI feels like tossing money into a black hole every mont...

Yeah, that's pretty much how it went down for me too. My neighbor didn't exactly jump at the chance to split costs, but once I showed him the survey r...

We ran into something similar a few years back. Bought a lot in a subdivision thinking we'd build within a year or two, but life happened and plans go...

Good point. Assessors definitely aren't infallible. A friend refinanced recently after finishing their basement, and the assessor completely overlooke...

True, but I'd caution against assuming freelancing automatically equals more control. Speaking from experience, freelancing can sometimes mean trading...