Good work, now don’t you feel better that you had a constructive hobby. Arguments can always be made for and against any investment or decision. I’ll bet that through your journey to understand the market and prices you learned a thing or two about affordability and your own ability to afford something for the long haul. Regardless of how good of a deal you got, your years of reading probably put you in the top 1% of the country who understands what it means to buy a house and what you can actually afford, knowledge is power and it will always be powerful. Don’t consider it “giving up” because it isn’t, even if you hadn’t bought, it is still not about giving up, giving in or holding out, it’s about understanding cycles and being prepared for them. Enjoy your home and your life, when you count your blessings or pray to your god(s), spare one for those who have still to complete their journey.

If it looks like the remodel will eliminate your ability to invest in other areas or save, turn your thirst for research into taking on projects yourself, cut costs and find balance. Reading housing blogs for years should make you immune from becoming house poor and home remodeling isn’t actually all that hard, watch some of waiting hawks videos, they are inspiring.