Owning a home has long symbolized financial security, but in 2025’s high-cost environment, some Americans may find that their homes are actually straining their budgets. Being “house poor” doesn’t always mean you’re behind on payments; it can simply mean too much of your income goes toward your home, leaving too little for savings, emergencies or everyday life. Experts explained six key signs that you may be house poor without realizing it. 1. Your Housing Costs Exceed 30% of Your Income Financial plan ...

When Kourtnee Turner decided to buy her first home, she didn't just pick a city she loved, but a city that would pay her to move there. (1) Turner told Business Insider she strategically relocated from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Baltimore, Maryland, to stack housing incentives worth over $15,000. She used the Maryland SmartBuy Program, which pays off student loans for local homebuyers, plus a $10,000 first-time homebuyer grant and a $5,000 Trolley Tour Lottery grant through Live Baltimore. For $200,000, Turne ...