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So, we make around $115,000 per year, but we have quite a bit of debt between student loans and credit cards.
Because of our outstanding debt, we bought a home well under what a couple making $115,000 would probably buy, and put 20% down on it. We've also paid off our cars, and both are functioning beautifully, so we expect no car payment in the next few years.
We have around $2,000 leftover each month after all utilities, mortgage, debt repayments, and all necessary living expenses (food, gas, etc.). So in our opinion, we are more than financially able to support a child. We actually waited to have a child as long as we did so that we could become financially stable.
Despite our past debt, we have made solid financial decisions in the past 5 years. Unfortunately, due to infertility and treatments, we have not been able to pay off debts like we would like to. We have almost $20,000 in the bank, $11,000 in retirement, and will also be receiving money from relatives to help with our adoption costs. I am just worried that our past high debt will put us in jeopardy. Our plan is to present the SW with a plan of how we will pay off our debts in the next 5 years, even with having a child.
Also, how do they ask you to determine the value of your home? Our last formal appraisal was 4 years ago, and we had tons of equity. Now, I have no idea, but I doubt we have much. Which would put us in a breakeven or even negative net worth situation. Did any of you have to have a new appraisal?
What do you think? Could we have trouble? This is the one thing that is driving me insane, and if I can hear perhaps some positive feedback, I might feel a bit better.
TIA!
eagleswings216
Our agency wanted us to show that we had money left over each month after paying all our bills, and that we either had the money for the adoption, or had a plan for how we would pay for it. I don't know how your agency looks at things, but it sounds like you would be fine if it is similar to the agency we used. We also had to provide our most recent tax returns to verify our income.
I feel bad, because I posted without lurking through the forum, and was able to find some questions similar to mine within this forum, so your answer seems to be a common theme.
Thank you so much for your reply! That sounds great, and we would absolutely qualify under that condition. The agency that we seem to be leaning toward the most requires an income 125% above poverty level, and that's all they would reveal over the phone. They did state that net worth was not part of the equation, which is relieving. But we're not 100% sure that we are going with them, so trying to find out what our options are. It sounds like we might be okay.
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My agency just wanted to know that I am financially able to support a child. Between student loans and mortgage, I am definitely in the negative net worth (I think a lot of us are), but it's more the ability to support a child that most agencies are concerned with.