Another important point is that you should buy the house that satisfies your needs, especially here in San Diego. While an ocean view is great, it’s usually not practical. Keep in mind that just because you are pre-approved for a $2,400 mortgage payment does not mean you have to buy a house with $2,400 monthly mortgage payments. If a house with $1,300 monthly mortgage payments satisfies your needs, that’s fine. There’s only one Hearst Castle, after all. If you are a San Diego area retiree, sometimes an apartment or a more affordable town house will satisfy your need instead of a single-family home. Remember, a lot of people were driven into bankruptcy because they bought a house they could not afford.