The Real Deal: Am I Ready to Buy a House?

(Image credit: June Bhongjan) If you've had enough of your roommate eating your leftover take-out, your absentee landlord hiking the rent year after year even though the heat barely works, or your mom asking what time you -- a full-grown adult the last time you checked -- will be home, you might be dreaming about buying your own place, and doing it sooner rather than later.