09/23/2026
Thinking about buying a car before a house?
Pause.
That new ride could cost you your dream home. Here is how to play it smart:
✅ Protect your buying power: A fresh monthly car payment reduces your debt-to-income ratio, which slashes the mortgage amount a lender will approve for you.
✅ Count the hidden cost: An $800/month car payment does not just cost $800—it steals tens of thousands of dollars in home-purchasing budget.
✅ Sequence for success: Buy the home first. Lock in your mortgage, settle into your actual housing costs, and then buy the car with whatever budget remains.
Kimberly Bankston-Lee
📞916-265-4331
📩 [email protected]
REALTOR® | GUIDE Real Estate
DRE #02049965