My New Blog

One thing in life that I have found out is that no matter how much you have or how nice what you have is, there is always someone out there that has one better or nicer thing then you have. I have also found in life, that it really makes no sense to try keeping up with the "Jones" as they say. It mostly makes life very difficult, stressful and unpleasant. I have also found that most true friends could care less about what you have. What they really care most about is how you treat them.

 I think many times in life we buy things not so much for ourselves but what we perceive others will think about us for having these things. Don't get me wrong, I think it is nice to have nice things as long as we can really afford them, and without putting such a strain on us, our finances and mostly our families. Most of our kids would rather have us at home, than having to work that extra job trying to pay for what we really don't need or can not afford.

I say all of this to say when you get ready to buy a new home make sure you take into account what the real cost of it is. Will it put such a strain on your finances that it may cost you your family or maybe your health? It's nice to have a nice new home, but the newness and the excitement quickly wears off very quickly if it is putting extra stress on you and your family. I don't mean don't buy a new home, but buy responsibly. If you are renting, I believe buying a home makes a whole lot more since, it is yours and you don't have to ever worry about your rent going up, and you are building equity as you go.  Moving up to a larger home is also a great and exciting thing, but ask yourself (1) can I really afford it and (2) what is the real reason for making the move? If you can afford it and your reason is good than go for it.   

A home is one of the best investments you can make as long as the price fits into your budget. As a homeowner you can benefit from the power of leverage. Over 10 years, a $10,000 investment in the stock market at a normal 10% market rate of return would yield $23,600. The same investment as a down payment on a $200,000 home at a normal appreciation rate of 5% would return nearly 5 times the stock market return, at $110,300. (Source NAR)

 Just because a mortgage company approves you for a certain amount, does not mean you have to buy that much house. Figure out what you can comfortably afford so that you can do other things in life. Buying a home is a great and exciting thing, weather it is your first home, or you are moving up or down and my advice would be to buy without putting a strain on you and your family.

Sam Orlando

Broker/Owner

First Texas Realty

281-344-0007

http://www.FTXR.com/

sam@ftrealty.net