10/02/2026
🏡 You’re approved up to $800,000. Great!
But there’s another question we think deserves just as much attention:
Do you actually want an $800,000 housing budget?
Because qualifying for a mortgage and choosing a payment that fits the life you want to live aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Here’s a simplified example:
At 20% down and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.66%:
👉 $800,000 home: about $4,113/month in principal + interest
👉 $700,000 home: about $3,599/month in principal + interest
That’s a difference of roughly $514 every month, or more than $6,100 a year.
And we haven’t added property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, utilities or maintenance yet.
For some buyers, spending the additional amount is absolutely worth it.
Maybe it gets you the location you want. More space. A shorter commute. The yard, layout or neighborhood that makes everyday life better.
But maybe you’d rather keep that $500+ each month available for travel, investing, retirement, childcare, savings, or simply more breathing room.
Neither answer is wrong.
That’s why we think a good home search should include more than:
“What’s the most we can buy?”
It should also include:
“What do we want life to look like after we buy it?”
We can help you figure out which price point is most comfortable for you based on your needs, wishes, and goals.
📱https://mcabeegroup.zipforhome.com/
* This scenario is for illustration purposes only. Specific payment information varies depending on income, amount put down, etc.