The Whitehall Ledger - Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Homeownership can be an excellent financial decision for people at a variety of income levels. We all have to live somewhere. Generally speaking, you will be better off in the long run if you own that space so your housing expense can also be increasing your overall wealth position (building up the equity you have in a tangible asset).

With that being said, the most important tip I can give to a first buyer, or even anyone looking to upgrade, is to create a budget. When you meet with a mortgage lender, they are going to pre-qualify you for a loan based on certain criteria they have in the...