Comment “Move” if you’re interested in Buying or Selling Here are ways people end up house-poor in 2026 — stuff most buyers don’t think about until the bills hit: 1.\tStretching budget for “the dream” — Buying more house than you can comfortably afford. \t 2.\tIgnoring taxes & insurance increases — Rates keep going up, and payments follow. \t 3.\tLowballing maintenance costs — Roofs, HVAC, septic — it all adds up FAST. \t 4.\tSkipping energy efficiency checks — Old windows, bad insulation = huge