that means getting with a mortgage professional that gives you a total financial picture, letting you know how much you can buy and afford before you shop for the dream house. you say don t forget the hidden costs. a lot of people think about the payment on their mortgage. that s not the only cost associated with home ownership. when you re moving from a renter or a larger home, that comes with maintenance costs. typical things when you move into a new home, new furniture. people spend a lot of money on new homes and they don t put those things in the budget. we want o to make sure viewers budget for those expenses. new roofs, painting repair. you say location, location. oldest rule in real estate. location, location, location. it s still true today. that was amplified in the meltdown. the strongest locations do the best through the credit crisis. that s still true today. you need to think about schools, number one. even if you don t have kids, a lot buying homes, if you don