• Is my income stable and do I have a monthly budget?  Do I have disposable income each month, or am I living from paycheck to paycheck?
  
  
• Am I planning to live in the area for at least three to five more years?
  
  
• What's my current rental payment and what can I reasonably afford for a monthly mortgage payment?
   
• How much will  property taxes and property insurance or condo dues cost?
  
  
• Am I currently able to save and/or contribute to a 401(k) or other retirement savings plan?  Would I  be comfortable diverting part or all of those scheduled savings into a mortgage payment for the next few years?
  
  
• What's my current tax bracket and will I be able to use the write-offs for interest and property tax payments?  What will my new housing payment look like after figuring in the tax benefits?
  
  
• Will I have cash reserves left after closing in case the property needs  repairs?  Will I have money left to buy furniture and move?  
  
  
• Is my employment situation stable?  If I were to lose my job, do I have a safe fallback plan?  Do I have the support of parents or other family members in case of a cash crunch?  Do I have untapped credit available on credit cards?

I would love to set up a consultation to discuss your budget and credit report, even if you're not ready to buy yet.