Gayle Gahagan

As a first time homeowner, you may be overwhelmed by the home maintenance list required to keep your house in good condition. This is important not just for the enjoyment of your home but for potential future resale value. When you buy a home, make sure you put locating your utility shut-off points at the top of your list. In the case of an emergency, knowing where these are can save your home from unnecessary damage.

You typically do not have to put 20% down on a house. In fact, the average down payment for first-time buyers is just 6 percent and there are loan programs that let you put as little as zero down. However, a smaller down payment often means a more expensive mortgage long-term but if you want to get into a house sooner rather than later, that might be a sacrifice you want to make!