Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar situation. We can afford another house but can’t justify tripling our mortgage, with majority of it going toward interest. As PP suggested above, we decided to do some updates and decorate to help us like our current house more. I am trying to see the positives. Can’t beat the location and we really do not need that much more space.

Anonymous wrote:You can rent out your current house to save the good rate and then buy a new one, refi later.

Anonymous wrote:How do you deal with being stuck in a starter house that you can’t let go of due to the insanely low monthly payment? Technically can afford a more ideal home (2x the value of our TH) but the monthly payments will be 4x due to taxes/mortgage rates. I cannot wrap my head around paying 4x our current amount for housing, even though technically our income would allow it (would still be under 35% after tax income).

Anonymous wrote:You're not "stuck" because you can afford to move.

Either it's worth it for you to move or it's not. Make a choice.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you understand the word “stuck.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has stayed in her starter home for 17 years: It now feels like the smart thing to do. If there’s no super urgent reason to move, don’t move. The security is priceless.

+1. We can’t justify tripling our mortgage payments so we are staying in a house this is just fine, even though on paper we could afford a house that we would adore.

It’s making me a bit more willing to invest in upgrades, nicer furniture or decor that makes me happy, to make the best of a house that wasn’t meant to be forever.

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has stayed in her starter home for 17 years: It now feels like the smart thing to do. If there’s no super urgent reason to move, don’t move. The security is priceless.