E152: How These Newlyweds Broke Their Lease & Bought a House – with One Income!

Is it possible to buy your first home in a very expensive area with just one income? This Baltimore first-time home buyer couple did it! 
Allison and Ephraim found out their rent was going up 30%, and they discovered it was over $10,000 cheaper to break their lease. So they decided to buy their first home with only ONE income and ended up paying their monthly mortgage only $50 more than their rent. 
Tune in for a ton of incredible tips, tricks, and hacks, including how they used the podcast to help them make a decision – a decision based on facts, and not fear!
Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:
How Allison and Ephraim prepped for their first home purchase
Realizing the positives of the numbers
Their biggest fears going into the process
What could have been their biggest nightmare
Do not waive your inspection
Making choices based on facts, not fear

Episode Highlights:
[06:29] Ways to Save Effectively
Statistics suggest that 73% of Americans have less than $1,000 saved. Whether it’s your Netflix subscription, your cable, or your daily Starbucks fix, identify which expenses can you cut back on for the short term so you can make the long term happen. Make a few sacrifices now for the long term. The bigger your savings, the larger the down payment you can make when buying a house, and the less you have to pay on your mortgage. 
[17:59] Realize the Positives of the Numbers
Make sure the numbers work and that you stick to your numbers. Lenders are going to ask you to show all your bank accounts that you’re going to feel like you’re naked. Then they will crush your dreams. That’s why you have to realize the positives of the numbers because that will keep you going.
[19:02] Be Extra Careful When Wiring the Money
When you close a deal, sometimes you have to wire a down payment, which involves a large chunk of money. Sometimes, if it's over a certain amount, they'd prefer to wire it versus a cashier's check. This couple happened to send the money to the wrong place. Fortunately, the money got sent back to their bank account just in time. To prevent this kind of mishap, always check with your lender if they allow you to pay through a cashier's check instead of a wire transfer, or check with your bank to learn how to wire money safely.
[37:35] Making Choices Based on Facts, Not Fear
Sometimes, you might find that the house does fit you perfectly. But if it makes you compromise on something, do not be afraid to walk away because there will always be another house out there. The reason people are not confident is that they're not knowledgeable. Ignorance is not a bad word. But the more information you have, the more you know, and the better choices you’re going to make because your decisions are based on facts, not fear.
Resources Mentioned:
Instagram: @DavidSidoni
Tik Tok: @howtobuyahome"
www.HowtoBuyaHome.com