I've been working with a couple for five months who told me upfront they had a "strict budget" of $400,000. Fine, no problem, I respect financial boundaries. We've toured probably thirty homes in that range. Nice homes. Good neighborhoods. Reasonable commutes. Last week the wife casually mentions they just got back from vacation in the Maldives. Yesterday the husband showed me photos of the new boat they bought. Today they rejected a perfectly good three-bedroom because the kitchen backsplash was "too basic" and they "couldn't possibly live with that energy." I finally asked if maybe we should look at homes with a slightly higher budget since clearly money isn't as tight as they'd indicated. They looked at me like I'd suggested they commit a felony. "Oh no, we're very disciplined about our housing budget. That's non-negotiable." So the Maldives trip and the boat are fine, but spending an extra twenty grand on a home you'll live in for the next decade is where we draw the line on fiscal responsibility. I'm going to need a stronger coffee. Or a weaker conscience about day drinking before noon.