<prompt> Human: Once I purchase it I will rent out rooms while living there to help pay mortage, I make decent money, but would like to pay off mortage asap. Any tipshelp would he much appreciated. House should be about 150-200k.Expenses, mortage, taxes, everything I should know, shortcuts to save money on purchase, etcHow much should I have before getting a mortage 20-30? DosDonts?Thank you,  <response>: Pay for a home inspection. It is worth the money. It is also a good negotiating tool to help lower the price.Guard your credit score. Small differences in interest rates can add up over time. Save up enough to avoid private mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance does not protect the buyer, only the bank, and can add lots of money to your monthly payment. If you put down enough money up front, and have really good credit, you can avoid this cost. Homeowners insurance is widely variable depending on area. Ask the current homeowner. Make sure you are adequately insured for the roommates.For taxes, get a good accountant the first year, find out if you can depreciate part of the house to offset taxes owed on the rental incomeHonestly, as much as I would like to tell you not to use a real estate agent because theoretically you could buy cheaper without one, a good agent is invaluable when buying your first home. LEARN TO BE RESOURCEFUL! I cant emphasize this enough. Routine maintenance! Change AC filters. No tampons in the plumbing. Keep gutters clean. You will save incredible amounts of money by fixing stuff yourself. I am a 59 year old woman, this year I have fixed my tenants dishwasher, a minor fridge repair, and two running toilets. Those four repairs cost me less than 30. My husband fixed our refrigerator. You tube can teach you how to fix anything. Become friends with the Ace or True Value hardware guys, forget Lowes and Home Depot for repair advice. The small local hardware place will help you fix anything. 