How Much House Can I Afford? Stop Thinking Price—Start Thinking Payment (2025 Central Texas)
A $400K home can cost less per month than a $350K—because payment (rate, taxes, insurance, HOA/PMI/MUD/PID) beats price.
Get a personalized, payment-first consult and shop smart—without being house-poor.
Get Your Free Payment-First Consultation
Why Payment Beats Price
Most buyers look at list price or lender approval and miss the cash-flow reality: Total Payment = P&I + Taxes + Insurance + HOA/PMI + (MUD/PID in many TX areas).
A lower rate, lower tax district, and lower HOA can make a higher-priced home cost less each month. This is how we keep lifestyle first and avoid the “house-poor” trap.
Case Study At-a-Glance (from the video)
- Home A — $350K (resale): higher tax rate, standard market rate, typical HOA/insurance.
- Home B — $400K (new build): promotional rate, lower tax rate, lower HOA/insurance.
Result: The $400K home ends up ~$300–$350/mo less than the $350K—because the payment drivers are better.
Your numbers will vary. I’ll compute exact figures for your chosen homes.
How Your Payment-First Plan Works
- Tell me your comfortable all-in monthly (not just P&I)
- Share 1–3 addresses/areas you’re considering.
- I deliver a side-by-side payment report with options to lower the monthly (rate buydowns, concessions, lower-tax areas, HOA trade-offs, insurance strategies).
- We negotiate confidently with a payment target—not just a price tag.
Who This Is For
- Buyers who want to avoid being house-poor
- First-time buyers who need a clear monthly budget
- Move-up buyers comparing new-build incentives vs resale
- Central Texas shoppers needing MUD/PID & tax clarity
What You’ll Get (Free)
- Payment-First Report (PITI + HOA/PMI/MUD/PID) on your selected homes
- Reverse-engineered max price from your comfortable monthly
- Savings ideas: builder credits, seller concessions, rate buydowns, insurance tweaks
Request Your Personalized Payment Plan
Realtor & Mortgage Loan Officer | License ID: 0700192
FAQs
Will this affect my credit?
No. We start with estimates and public data. If you want a full pre-approval later, we’ll discuss soft vs hard pulls first.
Do I have to be ready to buy now?
No. Many clients are 3–6 months out and use this to narrow their search and learn where the savings are.
What if I already have a Realtor or lender?
Unfortunately, I can only provide this specialized & custom service to active clients but you can share this page with your team so they can provide a comparable service.
Is this only for Central Texas?
I specialize in the central Texas area which includes Travis, Williamson, Bastrop & Hays counties, but the payment-first method works anywhere.
Compliance Notes (Required When Rates/Payments Are Mentioned)
- Illustrations only. Rates/fees change; final terms depend on credit, down payment, product, and market conditions.
- Payments often exclude taxes & insurance; actual payment may be higher.
- If promotional/temporary buydowns or ARMs are used, terms are time-limited and may increase after the period.
- Company/LO identifiers: Alfonso Rodriguez, NMLS #2103631
- Texas SML Complaint & Recovery Fund Notice: CONSUMERS WISHING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COMPANY OR A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR SHOULD COMPLETE AND SEND A COMPLAINT FORM TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF SAVINGS AND MORTGAGE LENDING, 2601 NORTH LAMAR, SUITE 201, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705. COMPLAINT FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV