1 Introduction What are your financial goals in life 2 Fitting within other financial goals Various aspects of life to consider 3 Buying versus renting Advantages and disadvantages of buying and renting 4 Tax advantages Itemized tax deductions and sheltered profits 5 Where to start Overview of affording a home    calculate how much house can you afford 6 Borrowing money Find out how much can you borrow    front vs back ratio formula 7 Monthly house payments See your current income and expenses and preview your proposed house payments within your budget    income vs. expense snapshot    budget snapshot 8 Down payment Find out how down payments are determined and see how much cash you have available    down payment formula    current savings snapshot    current portfolio snapshot 9 How to afford a house See where your money goes think about strategies for affording a house, such as reducing your credit card spending, reevaluating your budget, setting up a savings goal, and borrowing from a retirement fund    expense pie snapshot    credit card snapshot    budget snapshot    savings goal snapshot    portfolio view snapshot 10 Looking for a lender Consider all your options Fixed rate mortgages Adjustable rate mortgages Shopping for a mortgage Glossary