Source: DaveRamsey.com –
In just a couple of months, we’ll be deep in the heart of home-buying season. Some house hunters will succumb to house fever, which can cause calm, rational people to resort to knee-jerk reactions and downright hissy fits in the quest for their perfect home.
You can avoid the troubles that go along with house fever-induced decisions by watching out for these three mistakes:
Buying while still in debt (or without an emergency fund)
Debt and/or the lack of an emergency fund can ruin your home-buying experience quicker than you can say “leaky roof.” Don’t buy a home until you are out of debt and have 3–6 months of expenses saved for emergencies. Save up a down payment of at least 10% and keep your house payment 25% or less of your take-home pay on a 15-year mortgage. You could also choose to buy your home with cash and stay out of debt permanently!