Most people think saving for a house is only about the down payment — but sometimes the real challenge is affording the monthly payment once you own it. In this episode, I share how my husband and I prepared financially for the new construction home we went under contract on in May 2023 — our third home overall, but the first one we purchased together.   Because we were using my husband’s VA loan and the builder covered closing costs, we didn’t need to save for a down payment. What we did need to save for? * Payment shock — our new mortgage was going to triple our current one * A financial cushion so we didn’t feel house-poor * Extra funds to buy down the interest rate when rates started climbing toward 8%   The home was supposed to be done in December, but delays pushed closing to March — and that turned out to be a blessing. With the money we saved, we bought down our interest rate to 5.6% instead of being stuck with 8%.   Inside this episode, you’ll hear: The system we used to track every expense and identify what to cut Why moving in with family temporarily helped us save the fastest How we mentally prepared for a much higher mortgage payment How we ended up saving enough to also start our first flip Why even repeat buyers need a first-time buyer mindset when the market shifts   This episode is for: * First-time buyers who feel overwhelmed by rising rates * Couples saving together for a home * VA buyers or zero-down buyers who still want to be financially prepared * Anyone terrified of “payment shock” or becoming house-poor   This episode is fully based on my own personal experience and I hope it helps you!