Most buyers can afford less than the bank approves. Start with a monthly payment you can comfortably handle including taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI, then work backward to a price range. If you share your down payment and target payment, I can translate that into realistic homes in Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, or Fuquay-Varina.

Start with your monthly payment (not the price)

Home price is the headline. Monthly payment is your real life. Your payment usually includes:

• Principal + interest

• Property taxes

• Homeowners insurance

• HOA dues (if applicable)

• PMI (if <20% down)

The “sleep-at-night” test

Ask yourself:

• If my payment rose $300, would I still be okay?

• Can I still save monthly?

• Can I still live like a normal human (food, kids, life, fun)?

Triangle-specific note

Two homes at the same price can have very different payments here because HOAs, tax differences, and newer construction neighborhoods can swing monthly costs fast.

The #1 affordability mistake

Shopping based on max pre-approval is how people end up house-rich and joy-poor.

Next step

Get pre-approved, set a payment target, then we shop neighborhoods that match your lifestyle—not just your lender’s optimism.

➡️ Want a quick affordability range with your numbers? Send me your target monthly payment + down payment and I’ll map a realistic price range.