Does Spring Have You Itching to Upgrade But Current Home Prices Have You Overwhelmed in 2026?
Deciding how much you can afford to spend for a new home can be so overwhelming, it's easy to feel paralyzed by indecision and doubt. With constant news of "high" interest rates consuming us, one thing that needs to be said is that rates have been a lot higher and banks have been a lot more discriminating in the past regarding who they approve and how much they charge. It may surprise you to know that our parents dealt with interest rates of 16%-18% in our childhood homes and 8.5%-10% and up, just 10 years before. Another fun fact is that women weren't always allowed to be listed on a title as a co-owner, or to build credit like today by being included on a mortgage less than 100 years ago. That was especially problematic if a husband died or divorced and also when a female wife was supporting her male husband financially or supplying most of their income. To quote an old ad, "we've come a long way baby" so let's say your realtor shows you homes in...