How much house can I afford in Bergen County?

How much house can you actually afford in Bergen County — and how is that different from what a lender will approve you for? In this first episode of the Homes Buying Guide Podcast, Kathleen Falco walks through the real affordability calculation: gross income, debt-to-income ratios, and the Bergen County-specific factors — high property taxes, elevated price points, and HOA fees — that often catch first-time buyers off guard.

The lender's number and the "comfortable" number are rarely the same in Northern New Jersey. Kathleen explains why pre-approval ceilings can stretch your budget to uncomfortable levels, and how to work backward from a monthly payment you can actually live with to find your true price range.

Whether you're early in your search or already deep in listings, this episode gives you a concrete framework for setting your budget — before you fall in love with a home you can't sustain.