While you are looking at insurance, please consider three other policies aside from your homeowners: disability, long term care and a large liability umbrella. Most people have some form of life insurance, so I will not cover that, but disability and long term care are both important if you do not have a year’s worth of reserves of ALL your debts in the bank. These can save you and your credit from a major disruption, should you become disabled and unable to make your payments.

A liability umbrella will keep you safe from a major lawsuit where you accidentally caused a loss to another individual, which is either over your current insurance liability limit or not covered under one of your policies (I am not saying that this will be sufficient to cover you if you aren't already covered). It isn't very expensive and should be discussed with your insurance broker as to the ramifications of the policy.

When it comes to choosing a loan, you need to have a financial plan in place. I have written about "The Plan" on 8/5/2006, and also about the types of mortgages you should consider in "How Important is the Right Mortgage" 8/29/2006 and "Invest in Your Mortgage - You Win” on 8/14/2006. I also wrote an article on the most important part of home ownership, the one that will keep you in this rare atmosphere – reserves. It is called "What Reserves" on 7/18/2006. These articles will help you understand what you need to consider to make your actions become reality in the way you wish them.

There was an old film with Robert Redford who became a candidate for either the Senate or a Governorship, I believe, and surprised everyone and won the race (I had a clue that he would win). He brought his campaign manager into a room off the main ballroom where his supporters were celebrating, shut the door and then turned to his campaign manager and said, "What do I do now? "

Once you are in your house, you might feel like Robert Redford yourself. The important point is you have accomplished what you set out to do, decided upon a plan and executed the first step. Now you need to monitor your progress at least twice a year and make sure that you are firmly on the road to financial freedom. You may think it isn't prudent to continue to check on your progress; it isn't prudent if you don't.

Hopefully you didn't reach for the stars or at least not one too hard to reach. Tomorrow is another day, and with your plan in place you will get to the star you are wishing for, in time.