Additionally, I see other things he could change:
- Apparently he has one child in school, one in preschool -- but they have their own rooms in a rental.
- He's still paying back student loans.
- They have a Shih Tzu, not a cheap dog.
- He has "sketchy" credit.
I think he could afford that house, if he were willing to rearrange some financial priorities.
The article says half of all renters in New Jersey are paying more than 50% of their income to rent and utilities -- why would anyone enter into that deal?