Getting approved for a mortgage can feel like the green light to start shopping, but that approval number is not a spending target. A preapproval only shows the maximum amount a lender may be willing to lend, not what will actually feel comfortable for your lifestyle after you move in.
Only you know how you want to live after buying a home. That is why it is worth thinking through your comfort level before you start touring properties, especially when it comes to what you want room for in your monthly budget, like:
- Travel
- Hobbies
- Savings
- Less financial stress each month