Buying a home is often seen as a major financial milestone, but it can also become a source of stress when income changes unexpectedly or hidden costs begin to pile up. A Reddit post from a homeowner who purchased a ₹1.5 crore apartment has now triggered a discussion online, with many users debating whether the purchase was a mistake and what others can learn from the experience.In the now-viral Reddit post, the homeowner said he bought the apartment around a year ago when his annual income was about ₹25 lakh in 2024. His earnings later increased to ₹32 lakh in 2025. However, because his income depends heavily on incentives and commissions, business slowed over the last two quarters, sharply reducing his monthly earnings.Describing his current situation, he wrote, "Right now, my take-home pay barely covers my monthly home loan EMI and basic fixed expenses. I am planning to start a side gig soon just to stay afloat. Looking back, holding off on buying a house would have been the smart move, but there is nothing I can do about it now."The financial pressure did not stop there. He revealed that after moving in, he had to spend around ₹2.5 lakh on unexpected society maintenance and structural repairs. Plumbing issues have now added another likely expense of around ₹50,000.He also shared that his emergency savings have fallen to ₹5 lakh. Although he has another ₹10 lakh invested in mutual funds and PPF, he said he does not want to withdraw those investments unless absolutely necessary.Feeling overwhelmed, he ended his post by asking, "I'm very overwhelmed and I feel like I've bad a bad decision, not sure where to go from here though, it seems tough to sell the apartment I just got. Any advice?"Three takeaways for homebuyersThe post also highlighted a few practical lessons for anyone planning to buy a house:If your income is variable, plan for slower months before taking on a large home loan.Keep room in your budget for maintenance, repairs and society charges, not just the EMI.Avoid stretching your finances due to FOMO, and buy a home that remains affordable even if your income temporarily falls.Reddit users were divided on the next stepThe post received a wide range of responses. Some users felt selling the apartment and clearing the loan would reduce financial pressure, even if it meant accepting a small loss. Others argued that selling in a weak market could create another regret.One commenter wrote, "Power of hindsight is a curse. If the business flourished you would be thinking the opposite. It’s okay, shall pass."Another user suggested focusing on cash flow instead of the original decision. They advised preparing a six-month financial plan and treating the remaining emergency fund as a runway instead of protecting investments at all costs.Some users also recommended negotiating with the bank for a lower interest rate, extending the loan tenure to reduce EMI, renting out part of the property if possible, or finding an additional source of income before making a final decision.