Start by spending less, saving everything you can, and paying down your highest debts first.

Save your money.

I My friend was in the same situation as you 1 year ago I told her to get a second job and start working on her credit. 1 year later she has over 40k saved and credit is up over 700 now.

Foreclosure was already started & we were lucky to know it was finished & occupant evicted by the time we got it.This saved us a lot of time and money in a judicial state like Wisconsin.

One of the ways I found could bring the deal back to the table is if I use one of the Flat Fee MLS listing services and save almost a full 3% in my side of the commission to an agent.

I've been interested in investing in real estate for many years, but ultimately I let fear get in the way.

Either the numbers work or they don't, so what an ultimate property tax assessment represents on an item by item basis I don't see as particularly relevant.

They money you are saving on personal rent should/could fairly be considered income.

Also, If you pay off your mortgage early and truly own your house the ability to leverage decreases and you forfeit the ability to invest that money in other vehicles that would ideally bring in better returns than the money saved through paying down your home.

I just don't see much risk with the situation I mentioned above, unless of course I am completely without a job and wasting away my saving.