Real Talk
Why do giant companies sit on a pile of cash? Some of the biggest companies in America keep a mountain of cash on the side.
It isn't spending money. It's there for when something goes wrong.
Your home works the same way. Lenders even have a name for it.
Reserves are the money you still have after closing, once the down payment and closing costs are paid.
Lenders count them in months. One month = your whole house payment: the loan, taxes, insurance and any HOA dues.
Savings and checking count. Stocks and mutual funds can count too.
Why do lenders care? A cushion means a broken water heater or a slow month doesn't turn into a missed payment.
On a regular one-unit home you live in, there's often no set minimum. A second home or a rental usually needs a few months. Either way, more cushion can make your file look stronger.
Here's the surprise. Just 46% of Americans have enough emergency savings to cover 3 months of bills (Bankrate, 2025).
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU A bigger down payment isn't always the smarter move. Put every last dollar into the house and you can end up house-rich and cash-poor.
One thing you can do this week: write down your full monthly housing cost. Use the one you pay now or the one you're picturing.
Then divide your savings by it. That answer is how many months of cushion you have.
Already own? The math is the same. It shows how long you could ride out a surprise.
Personally, I think the best house is the one that still lets you sleep at night. The giants keep a cushion on purpose. You can too.
GUESS THIS Which is bigger? A) The cash one company, Berkshire Hathaway, had at the end of March. B) The cash of Apple, Amazon, Google's parent and Microsoft, all added together.
Take your pick. The answer is at the very bottom.
THIS WEEK IN THE WORLD Home insurance is in the news again. Homeowners who switched companies cut their premiums by 6.6% on average. People who stayed put saw a 10.4% increase (Intercontinental Exchange, 2026).
What it means for you: when your renewal shows up, get a couple of other quotes for the same coverage. You're not locked into last year's price.
Quick Break Heavy Hawk Landing Rescuers in Virginia found a hawk stuck in a driveway, and the problem turned out to be that she was too fat to fly.
Blame the buffet: She weighed 2 pounds, nearly a pound more than normal, after weeks of feasting on a neighborhood buffet of free-roaming chickens.
Time to trade the buffet for a lighter menu.
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There are 823 homes for sale across Navajo County — 15.2% more than this time last year.
The typical home is taking 95 days to go under contract, about eleven days longer than last October.
The median asking price is $480,000, down 3.7% year over year — and that is an ASKING price, not what homes actually sold for.
About one in five listings has already taken a price cut.
Pending sales are down 10.7% from last October, so buyers are slower to commit.
Across Arizona, the median asking price is $459,900, down 3.2% from a year ago.
See the full monthly market report →
Navajo County, October 2026 · Realtor.com® Economic Research · asking prices, not sale prices
PS · 💡 Did You Know I Can Do This? An asset-based loan lets you qualify using your savings and investments instead of a paycheck. It's a program some lenders offer. It can fit retirees, business owners, or anyone who has more in the bank than on a pay stub. Remember that cushion from up top? With this loan, it can help you qualify.
Wondering if your savings could do the talking? Reply and ask.
Meme of the Week Me after one video about fixing a sink: I can totally do this myself.
THE ANSWER Did you get it? It's A. Berkshire hit a record $397.4 billion in cash, more than all four of those giants put together (24/7 Wall St, 2026). Now that's a cushion.
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