Folks are now looking at buying homes with inventory shrinking and interest rates still low.  Follow these 4 steps to keep from being “house poor” with a too large house payment.  (1)  RUN YOU OWN NUMBERS.  Figure monthly payment, including taxes and insurance + maintenance.  Then figure how much of your monthly income can go toward all these expenses.  Ask your mortgage lender for the same information and compare.  (2) START YOUR HOUSE HUNT LOWER THAN YOUR TOP DOLLAR.  In some markets houses are going for over asking price and you need to know where to stop.  (3)  HAVE YOUR MORTGAGE PRO DO A LAST-MINUTE BUDGET CHECK BEFORE YOU WRITE AN OFFER.  Ask your mortgage pro to run a last minute budget check as it may have months ago when he/she did the last one.  Not a good idea to buy a boat while trying to get a mortgage loan or any other large purchase. (4)  THINK OF YOUR HOUSE AS THE LAUNCH PAD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.  Your home is not the cornerstone of your value as a human being – no possession is.  It should be the backdrop for the rest of your life to enjoy with your family.  Again don’t get “house poor”!