If you're renting a house, you already know what it's like to have a yard, a little breathing room and a place that feels like more than an apartment. The question worth asking is whether the payment you're making every month could be building something that belongs to you. I'll put together a personal snapshot to help you see it clearly, with no pressure and no obligation to do anything with it.

What your snapshot includes:

• What your current rent could realistically buy in the neighborhoods you care about

• Loan and down-payment programs you may qualify for, including options that ask for far less than twenty percent down

• A sensible timeline, whether you're thinking about this spring or a few years from now