There's more that goes into choosing the right house than the perfect neighborhood and curb appeal. You might be ambitious enough to want to take on a fixer-upper as your first home. Before you jump to any quick decisions on buying (or not), take a look at your finances—and not just what you're making and spending today!

In this episode of Mortgage Secrets, John dives into the world of mortgages and picking the right property, explaining what most people don't know about construction loans (and why you probably won't get one without a plan) and how buying instead of renting can actually save you money. Regardless of what you end up choosing, remember: Buying a house is all about you and your long-term goals!