Starting Out
Down-Payment Dana
Data Analyst · Seattle, WA
Saving for a house in the most expensive city she could have chosen.
About Down-Payment Dana
Dana moved to Seattle for a data analyst role and immediately started saving for a house. The median home price is $780k. She has $48k saved. Her parents say rent is throwing money away. Her coworker says buying in Seattle right now is financial suicide. The model will settle it.
Financial Snapshot
$92,000
Annual Income
$48,000
Net Worth
27
Age
Down-Payment Dana's Story — 2 Chapters
The Seattle Math
Dana models the down payment timeline. At her current $1,800/month savings rate, she'll have a 10% down payment ($78k) in 16 months. But at 10% down on a $780k home, her monthly payment would be $4,890 — 64% of her take-home pay. The model shows what 20% down changes.
Uses: down-paymentThe Rent-vs-Buy Verdict(Coming soon)
Dana runs the full rent-vs-buy model. Her current rent is $2,100/month. The equivalent mortgage would be $4,890. The break-even point — where buying becomes cheaper than renting — is 7.2 years. She plans to stay 5 years.
Uses: rent-vs-buy