They splash out of steaks, a new grill, etc.And if they win big, they get a new car, etc.If you earn $100k, you spend $100k.People cannot break that cycle of spending everything they have.And despite all these gurus pretending it's easy, this is still a rich man's (and woman) game and it takes money to play this game. 

I try to pretend that the property I buy will never appreciate in value.

Let's pretend that your number is $100,000 that means you are asking for a downpayment of $30,000.  

It seems optimistic, but I won't pretend I'm an expert.

but saying "perfect for students" is steering, and will probably get you into trouble sooner rather than later...I am not a lawyer, and I don't pretend to be one on TV either...

If I take $180k (a possible original loan amount) and plug it into a financial calculator for a 30 year fixed and 3.875% rate, it says the P&I payment is $846.If I tell it to pretend the P&I payment is $200 higher, $1046, and ask it to spit out the effective current interest rate, it spits out 5.715%.If I suppose that you've had this house for 3-5 years and don't want to go back to year one of 30, then you can look at a 25 year fixed.

I met someone who used to pretend to be horribly allergic so someone else would have to do it.

Any Fannie lender with an IQ greater than a mousepad can offer it, but homebuyers in California should of course pretend it's some amazing thing that only I offer.

He is trying to sell it for far higher than the true value and pretending like he just doesn't want to list it.

Unless you wish to pay for a lot of plastic surgery or pretend to be someone you aren't get over it.