A month later, the "For Sale" sign was gone. As they turned the key in the lock of the blue craftsman, they realized that the mortgage wasn't just a debt—it was the bridge that turned their "someday" into "home."

"We have the savings," Leo sighed, looking at his phone, "but is it enough for a 20% down payment?"

"And what about that massive estate on the hill?" Maya joked. Sarah laughed. "That’s territory. When the price of a home exceeds 'conforming' limits set by the government, you need a different kind of engine to fund it—usually requiring a much higher credit score and a bigger down payment." The Happy Ending