🔺 r/personalfinanceuLearningToBee·23 days ago
Advice in buying a house given solid stats but potential kids + career change?
Hey all! Big financial decisions on the way, and I'm trying not to derail a solid financial situation by bad decisions/timing. Half exciting, half scary. Question: With a planned income drop and kids soon, is it safe to buy an $800-850k house now, or is buying at all right now a mistake? Me + Wife: late 20's, HCOL metro (not VHCOL) w/ no debt Income Total HHI: $200-250k I make $150k/yr in sales - just got promoted so may make closer to $200k next year. I'd love the career flexibility in 3-5 yrs to do something lower-paid but less stressful, maybe closer to $80-100k/yr Wife: $50k, career growing Spending ~7k/mo all-in for a very comfortable life. Rent is $3.1k of that. Savings ($1.05mm, largely from inheritance) 150k total in our 401ks 50k in Roth IRA 25k in managed brokerage 35k in HYSA $765k wife's inheritance All investments (401k, Roth, brokerage, etc) are in index funds (VTWAX or VTSAX/VTIAX) Note: potentially receiving another $500k in the next 2-5 years :( House Want 2-3 kids, starting in next 2-3 years In-laws live far and have generously offered to help us buy if the house has an ADU they can stay in to visit grandkids. My wife and I love this idea (grandparent support + ho…