Lenders look at how much of your monthly income goes toward debt. Aim for your total housing payment to be less than 28–30% of your gross monthly income.
Find someone who is patient and willing to explain the "why" behind every document. Ask them, "Have you worked with first-time buyers or single-parent households before?"
You don’t have to do this alone. There are programs specifically designed to help:
Consider townhomes or condos where an HOA handles exterior maintenance (roof, siding, lawn). While there is a monthly fee, it protects your limited time and prevents "surprise" repair costs.
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