Financial habits, budgeting, credit, foundations.
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn How to Find and Stack First Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs Whether you’re a parent helping your teen navigate the path to homeownership or a young adult researching your options, first time home buyer programs represent thousands of dollars in assistance that most people never discover. If you’re wondering […]
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn How to Start Saving Money for Your First Home Down Payment Whether you’re a parent helping your young adult save for their first home or you’re in your twenties building toward homeownership, that first chunk of savings feels both exciting and overwhelming. The good news? Getting to your first
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Best Starter Credit Card for No Credit: Strategic First Steps Whether you’re 18 and opening your first credit card or a parent teaching your young adult how to use credit responsibly, understanding the difference between a tool and a trap determines your financial trajectory. Your first credit card isn’t
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn What Is the 50 30 20 Budget Rule for First-Time Home Buyers? Whether you’re 18 learning to budget for the first time or a parent teaching your young adult money management, the 50/30/20 budget rule provides a framework that works in real life—not just theory. This isn’t about restricting
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Home Purchase Budget and Your Strategic 2-Year Plan to Ownership Whether you’re a young adult starting your homeownership journey or a parent helping guide the planning process, having a clear timeline with specific milestones transforms an overwhelming goal into achievable quarterly targets. The difference between people who eventually buy
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn House Hacking for Beginners: The Strategy That Eliminates Your Largest Expense Whether you’re a young adult looking to escape the rent trap or a parent helping your twenty-something build wealth early, house hacking is the most powerful strategy for eliminating housing costs while building equity. This isn’t just theory—tens
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Buying Your First Home: How Real Twenty-Somethings Achieved Homeownership Whether you’re a young adult wondering if homeownership before thirty is realistic or a parent watching your twenty-something navigate this journey, real success stories provide both inspiration and practical roadmaps. These aren’t trust fund kids or lottery winners—they’re normal young
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn First Time Home Buyer Assistance and How to Build Your Support Team Whether you’re a young adult navigating your first home purchase or a parent helping guide the process, knowing who to turn to and where to find help transforms an overwhelming journey into a manageable one. The difference
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Rent vs Buy Calculator and the Real Math Behind Your Housing Decision Whether you’re a young adult trying to decide if homeownership makes sense now or a parent helping your twenty-something navigate this choice, the rent versus buy decision isn’t as simple as most calculators suggest. The real question
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Side Hustles to Make Money and What Lenders Actually Count as Income Whether you’re a young adult accelerating your path to homeownership or a parent watching your twenty-something build toward their first house, side income can dramatically shorten the timeline. But here’s what most people miss: not all side
By Jim blackburn By Jim blackburn Gift Money Rules and How Family Can Help With Your Down Payment Whether you’re a parent considering helping your young adult purchase their first home or you’re in your twenties wondering if family assistance is even allowed, gift funds can dramatically accelerate your path to homeownership. The good news?