Real estate is often described as the biggest financial decision you’ll ever make, and for good reason. When we work with our clients, we understand how much is at stake. Buying or selling a home carries emotional weight, but it’s the financial side that often feels the most daunting.
It makes sense that money and real estate are so closely connected. Property is a major financial asset, requiring significant capital or access to credit. Markets themselves rise and fall based on economic conditions, interest rates, and inflation. And ownership doesn’t end at the purchase — ongoing costs like maintenance, taxes, insurance, and utilities all add up.
For many people, the financial analysis can feel overwhelming. Spreadsheets, budgets, and projections quickly blur together.
To shed some light on this side of the equation, we recently spoke with Lori Curtiss, owner of A Money Maker Mindset — an advice-only, fee-only financial planning firm. Lori shared valuable insight into the financial considerations that influence real estate decisions.
If you’d like to connect with Lori, we’d be happy to make an introduction. Her services are invaluable whether you’re preparing to buy, settling into your finances after a move, or evaluating what a sale could mean for your long-term savings.
What is an advice-only financial planner?
An advice-only financial planner gives you guidance that’s completely independent. No product sales, no commissions, no hidden agenda. The focus is 100 percent on what’s right for you, your goals, and your values, not what’s profitable for a firm. My role is to help you feel clear and confident about your financial decisions, making sure your money choices support the life you want to live – whether that’s buying a home, managing debt, or planning for retirement.
How does psychology impact people’s financial decisions?
Most financial decisions are emotional long before they’re logical. Our brains are wired to seek safety, avoid discomfort, and repeat familiar patterns. That means even when we know what we “should” do, fear, guilt, past experiences, or cultural influences can pull us in a different direction. Understanding your psychology helps you recognize those patterns and make decisions that align with your real goals and values, not your emotional triggers.
What are some of the most common financial mistakes you see people make?
Two of the biggest financial mistakes I see people make are avoiding their finances and comparing themselves to others. Avoiding your money and hoping things will somehow work out usually leads to more stress, not less. And comparing yourself to others rarely helps, because most of us aren’t completely honest about our finances. You end up measuring yourself against a perfect picture instead of reality. A better comparison is to your past self, to see how you’ve grown and what progress you’ve made. Real change comes from facing your numbers with honesty and curiosity, and creating a plan that supports your goals and values.
What is a trauma-informed approach to financial planning?
The term “trauma-informed” has become more common in recent years, but it’s important to understand what it really means. To be trauma-informed, a professional must recognize how all types of trauma, not only money-related experiences like bankruptcy or job loss, but also systemic, generational, or personal trauma, can shape a person’s behaviours and beliefs about money. I am trained in both financial trauma and how other trauma affects money habits. My approach is best described as trauma-aware, meaning I help clients understand the emotional and financial impact of past experiences and work with them in a supportive, judgment-free way so they can rebuild confidence and a healthier relationship with money.
Because this is for our real estate clients, is it best to pay down your mortgage or invest?
This is a really common question, and my answer is always the same: it depends. It depends on your goals and how comfortable you are with risk. It depends on your cash flow, your tax situation, and the emotional value you place on being debt-free. There are a lot of factors that go into this decision, which is why the right answer is different for everyone and every situation.
What should clients consider when they are deciding between renting vs buying?
Beyond the math, think about your lifestyle and flexibility. Buying can create stability and long-term wealth, but it also limits mobility and comes with maintenance costs. Renting may feel like it costs more monthly but gives you freedom and fewer financial surprises. The key is to align the decision with your life goals, not just your income or what others are doing.
What’s behind the psychology of buyer’s remorse?
Buyer’s remorse often stems from fear, such as fear of making a mistake, fear of losing options, or fear of judgment. Major purchases like homes trigger our brain’s safety alarms because they represent big, irreversible commitments. The best antidote is to make decisions from a grounded place, with clear priorities and realistic expectations rather than emotion or pressure.
What holds people back from jumping into the market even when it’s a good financial decision?
Even when the numbers make sense, people often hesitate because of self-doubt or feeling unprepared. The way to move forward is to quiet those feelings by looking at your money story, recognizing what parts are true, and what parts no longer serve you. Once you separate fact from old stories, you can make decisions with clarity and confidence.
What are some tools you use to help people find and overcome their financial blocks?
I use reflective exercises, guided questions, and values-based planning to help clients uncover what’s really driving their decisions. We might explore their money story, identify emotional triggers, or track where guilt or avoidance shows up around money. Once those patterns are named, practical tools like goal mapping and cash flow planning start to work much more effectively.
As Lori put it, “If you want to make financial decisions you’ll actually feel good about, the first step is to quiet the story your brain keeps replaying.” She explains that shame, guilt, and fear get in the way of learning about money and making informed choices. “The only way forward is to face them, see what’s real, and make decisions based on clarity, not on old stories.”
Our team has over 700 sales worth of experience supporting buyers and sellers through every market condition and all types of big life decisions. We take a tailored, case-by-case strategy based on each client’s needs, goals, and financial blocks. We’ve put together a strong team of professionals like Lori so our clients have all the support they need.
