As a first step in preparing for a home purchase, it’s important to determine if you are actually ready to become a homeowner. Are you able to stay put for a while? Is your income fairly stable? If you answered yes to both questions, the next step is to carefully consider your finances. Resolve to do the following in the New Year and you could be ready to purchase a home sooner than you think – maybe even ahead of any anticipated rate increases.

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One of the first steps to true independence is developing a strong sense of financial responsibility. The moment you start earning any money at all is the ideal moment to learn about money management, budgeting, and the importance of good credit. Whether you are exploring financial independence for the first time, or looking to re-build after a few credit mistakes, here are some options for getting on a path to a solid credit history.

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The burden of student loan debt is one of the main road blocks to financial independence and a top reason why men and women delay important life decisions, including home ownership. Whether you’re trying to pay for your own education or your child’s, it’s important to make smart borrowing decisions. Carefully consider your budget and loan amount so you won’t be tempted to over-borrow to fund your lifestyle, in addition to your education. The options can be overwhelming, so let’s break it down…

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