Admin

Don’t Buy a House to Impress Other People

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc 10307

Don’t Buy a House to Impress Other People
By Gwen Fowler

Going into debt to impress others isn’t confidence. It’s insecurity with a mortgage. In real estate, buyers stretch far beyond what they can reasonably afford, not because the home fits their needs, but because it looks good to others.

Here’s the truth: granite countertops and vaulted ceilings won’t make your payments. And when the mortgage is tight, credit card debt often fills the gap. Suddenly, simple pleasures like a weekend trip, dinner out, or holiday gifts are only possible by swiping a card.

That’s not freedom. That’s stress.

Credit card debt also grows faster than mortgage debt. With interest rates over 20 percent in many cases, your balance can snowball with just one rough month. The house you bought to impress others may keep you from living a life you enjoy.

And what happens when the HVAC fails, the roof leaks, or a medical bill shows up unexpectedly? If your finances are already stretched, even one surprise can throw everything into chaos. Owning a home should be empowering, not something that robs your peace of mind.

Your home should serve you, not your social media feed. A smart purchase allows you to have breathing room so you can travel, treat yourself, and save for the unexpected.

Ready to buy smart, not flashy?
Call Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc. at 864-638-3599,
email Gwen@GwenFowler.com,
or log in and browse anytime at www.CoolMountainEscapes.com.

Let’s find a home that fits your budget and your life.

Posted by

****************************************************************************************************

Gwen Fowler

Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc
317 South Highway 11
West Union SC 29696
Serving Oconee County, from the banks of the Chattooga River to the shores of Jocassee, Hartwell & Keowee Lakes, and all the private lakes in between.

c-->

Contact me about property in Oconee County, Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster, Long Creek, Salem, Mountain Rest, Richland, Sunset and Six Mile, SC.  2nd homes are our expertise. 

The best number to reach me at is 1-864-710-4518--either by call or text.

View our listings at www.CoolMountainEscapes.com

 

 

 

Comments(9)

Show All Comments Sort:
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Gwen. Your home should serve your needs not your ego. And, many never figure it out. We have lived in various sized homes and only two were the perfect size and configuration. Luckily the one we are in now is one of them. Enjoy your day.

Jun 16, 2025 06:45 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Gwen - life teaches many lessons. Buying a home (or anything else) to impress others is a futile attempt that is likely to backfire in countless ways. 

Jun 16, 2025 06:49 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518

So True, thanks for stopping by and commenting

Jun 16, 2025 01:01 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Gwen, that is what my ex-husband would do!   Upgrade to first class, rent an expensive rental car.   I have done very well since that divorce!  Live within your means, and don't care what others around you think.

Jun 16, 2025 12:14 PM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518

I had one who loved knowing about all my closings. He kept track of the money due and cleaned the account each time I had a payday.  3rd time, I closed the account and moved to another bank.  I did not give him access to the account.

Jun 16, 2025 12:42 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks so much for sharing this thoughtful post, Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518. I really appreciate how you highlight the importance of making smart choices over trying to impress others. Your insights are a great reminder that true homeownership is about peace of mind, not keeping up appearances. 😊

Jun 16, 2025 06:27 PM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518

Friends come and go, a house is a lifetime commitment.  

Jun 17, 2025 04:56 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Even though I try not to care about what others say or think of me, it still always creeps into my mind and influences the decisions I make, haha.  Doing something that puts us way outside of our budgets is definitely not a wise thing to do, no matter what, haha.

Jun 17, 2025 06:08 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Brian England I see some who want to have better than their parents, and that is amazing.  Parents have worked 40 years to have what they have, and their kids want it in the first house they buy.

Jun 17, 2025 06:14 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

This is such a smart post, Gwen, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Over the years, I watched young couples with kids buy these huge homes and then couldn't afford to furnish all the rooms or landscape. The yards would often turn to mud or have divets carved out from rivers of water running though them.

Jun 17, 2025 07:26 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Tuesday morning, Gwen.

This is good advice to share with prospective home buyers.

Jun 17, 2025 07:43 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

I have always went for the smaller home with lots of yard and parking.  Room to add on or to put in climbing walls and play sets.  

Jun 17, 2025 07:51 AM