Like everybody these days, I am sure you are running the numbers to see how much house you COULD have afforded when interest rates were around 3%. Quit doing that! All you are doing is making it harder to live in today’s reality of rates over 7%.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop so you can get that dream house in your dream neighborhood, how about still buying something that has a similar vibe but will have a cheaper mortgage payment?

If you love the Tates Creek area, and I mean the part with the 40502 zip code, and you want a house built in the middle of the last century, Lansdowne is likely your dream spot to be. And for good reason. Those giant lots and large homes have been fantastic since Day 1.

But you’re looking at financing most of the $600k to million dollar plus purchase price and your wallet says “No Bueno”. What do you do? Stay where you are and be unhappy? Keep renting and get absolutely no financial gain?

No, you look in Lans-Merik since it is right across Tates Creek Road from Lansdowne. Here you will get almost as large of a lot and the houses are mostly from the 1970s but it has a similar vibe. You will end up spending between $400k to maybe just over $600k.

$400k too much? While it is technically not in the 40502 zip code, Gainesway is literally just across New Circle Road from Lans-Merik. Here you will get a 1960s home on a larger lot in the $250-400k range.