09/05/2026
I’ve actually told buyers NOT to buy the more expensive house.😆
Because being approved for a certain amount and being able to comfortably afford that lifestyle are two very different things.
I’ve been selling real estate long enough to watch people make both kinds of decisions.
The buyer who stretches for the impressive house and then can’t comfortably travel, go out to dinner, save, invest or handle the first big repair.
And the buyer who purchases a little below their maximum, keeps money in the bank and actually gets to enjoy owning the house.
I know which one I’d rather see my clients become.
Your lender tells you what you can borrow.
My job is to help you think through what you actually want your life to look like after closing.
Because the goal isn’t to own the most expensive house someone will approve you for.
The goal is to own a home that helps you build the life you want.
And sometimes that means looking beyond the neighborhood you originally had in mind, considering a townhouse or condo, looking at new construction incentives, or simply buying below your maximum budget.
There are opportunities for first-time home buyers throughout Palm Beach County. The trick is knowing where to look and which properties actually make sense for your numbers and your longer-term plan.
🏡 Want to see what you could actually buy in Palm Beach County without becoming house poor?
Comment BUY or DM me BUY + your price range and I’ll send you a list of homes I’d be looking at if I were buying with that budget today.
And if you know someone who keeps saying, “I want to buy, but I don’t think I can afford anything here,” send them this post.They may have more options than they realize.
Leah Ball | Leah in Palm Beach
Palm Beach County Real Estate Advisor
Helping you buy, sell & invest in Palm Beach 🌴