If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to purchase a new home, there are some steps you should take to make sure you are in the best state financially to make the purchase. First of all, it is important to put away savings to make the down payment. There are tools available, such as the NC Housing Agency, that can help calculate what you can afford, should put away, and how to get help if you need a little assistance with the down payment. You should also pay down your debt and increase your credit score, which goes together.