09/23/2026
Incomes grew 4.6% last year*. Monthly mortgage payments fell. That combination means a mortgage payment takes up a smaller share of take-home pay today than it did a year ago**. The ratio improved. On top of that: down payment assistance programs exist in most markets, gift funds are allowed on most loan types, and there are first-time buyer programs that change the upfront cost significantly. The number you've been assuming you need and the number you actually need are often very different. The only way to know is to run it with someone who does this every day.
DM me and let's find out where you actually stand.
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
**Redfin, January 2026