Here are four things you need to do years before you start house-hunting to prepare yourself financially for the biggest purchase of your life. Becoming a homeowner can be a daunting process for anyone, especially young adults or anyone without experience making such big purchases. Rushing through multi-step financial process—deciding how much home you can afford, fixing any blemishes on your credit report and saving for a down payment—can prove costly. Years before you even think about hiring a