A: Student loan debt that is managed responsibly should not hold you back from buying a house. There are several factors to consider before making this choice, as well as steps to take before you start house-hunting.

If you’re – finally! – in the middle of your last year at college, you likely spend lots of time thinking about that first, after-college job. What will your job be like? What kind of company will you work for? How big will your starting salary be? Will you get along with your co-workers?