There are several ways to make your dream of being a home owner, one of the first things when starting the process is meet with a lender and have them review your ability to buy. This important step will provide you with the knowledge of what amount you can comfortably afford. This also saves time with your home search since the cost options are narrowed down.
I like your advice to build your credit history and pay off loans and debts to keep it clean. When doing this, it might help to work with a lender or other experts, such as real estate professionals. This could help you figure out a good credit score to have and they could help you with figuring out your budget and other requirements to find residential homes for sale that fit what you’re looking for.