For first-time buyers on the Colorado Front Range, one of the most common—and costly—mistakes isn’t choosing the wrong home. It’s choosing a payment that quietly makes life harder.

What a lender approves you for and what you can comfortably afford are rarely the same number. Loan approvals are based on formulas. Real life includes groceries, savings, travel, emergencies, and the ability to handle surprises without stress.

A comfortable housing budget leaves margin. It allows you to save each month, enjoy your lifestyle, and absorb costs like higher utilities, HOA dues, or maintenance without feeling stretched. On the Front Range, those extra expenses are especially common with condos and townhomes that many first-time buyers consider.

If a payment only works because of overtime, bonuses, or the hope that “things will work out,” that’s often a sign you’re pushing too far.

Your first home doesn’t need to check every box or impress anyone. It needs to fit your life today and still feel manageable a few years from now.

Sometimes the smartest move is buying smaller, choosing a townhome, or even renting a little longer. The goal isn’t to buy the most house possible—it’s to buy a home that supports your life, not one that controls it.