Did you spend more on your home than you planned? You're not alone.

I'm a local realtor in Delray Beach and Boca Raton. I help buyers work through budgets and trade-offs, so a new survey on buyer budgets caught my eye.

Quick answer: 77% of recent buyers spent more than they originally planned, according to a ServiceLink survey reported by Florida Realtors. It's a national survey of 1,554 U.S. adults who bought in the past two years, not a Florida sample.

Going over the original budget doesn't mean buyers bought something they couldn't afford. The survey measured spending against their original plans.

Buyers also made trade-offs: 21% bought with fewer bedrooms than they wanted, 21% with a smaller yard, and 29% accepted a higher rate than they wanted.

34% said they wanted more education from their agent and lender. I'm not afraid of the hard questions, and I'll walk you through the pros and cons on every deal.

With Freddie Mac's 30-year fixed average at 7.28% (reported Oct. 1), talk with me and a lender before you make an offer. Know your comfortable range before you tour. Prices in Palm Beach County are very sensitive to water: the closer you get to it, the higher the price. Sort your must-haves from your flexible wants.

In Delray and Boca, that can mean weighing gated vs. non-gated, an all-age community vs. an active adult community, equity membership vs. none, second floor vs. ground floor, garage vs. no garage, HOA fees and amenities, or distance to the beach, to name a few.

I also tell buyers to stop trying to time the market and spend time in the market.

Thinking about buying in Delray or Boca? Call or text me at 954-817-9463.