It all begins with an idea.

It’s hard to name a business, government agency, or NGO that doesn’t need leaders. Leaders are the catalysts that solidify teamwork. They’re goal setters. They’re champions of change. They keep the engine of innovation humming. Without leaders, organizations stagnate and lose their competitive edge.

Given the widespread demand for leaders in the workplace, it’s not surprising that leadership training is a core element of many post-graduate degree programs. Whether a student aspires to be an academic administrator, an executive in the mortgage lending industry, or the director of development for a community organization, chances are they’ll be required to take a couple of courses in leadership. Nowadays, hundreds of universities in the US offer master’s degrees in organizational leadership. Students can take their pick of online leadership certificate programs, too. Educational institutions are getting behind leadership preparedness as career qualification.

You’ve been laser-focused on your studies for a long time. It may even feel like you’ve been in school forever. But eventually, your hard work pays off. You’ve got those prized initials, MD or DO, after your name and, with them, may come the breathing room you need to finally pay attention to the rest of your life, such as homeownership.

Many new docs pull up stakes and move to a new town to begin their internships or residencies. And they’re faced with the question of where they’re going to live for the next few years. Buying a home looks like a smart option—why throw away money on rent when you could be building equity in a hard asset? But it can also seem daunting. Many of us are trying to climb a mountain of student debt and wonder if we can actually afford to buy a home. Here’s the good news: you probably can. But homeownership is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are potential pitfalls along the way to buying a home. So let’s take a look at how you can sidestep them and make your first homebuying experience as smooth and financially sound as it can be.

You’ve been laser-focused on your studies for a long time. It may even feel like you’ve been in school forever. But eventually, your hard work pays off. You’ve got those prized initials, MD or DO, after your name and, with them, may come the breathing room you need to finally pay attention to the rest of your life goals. Home ownership may be one of them.

Many new docs pull up stakes and move to a new town to begin their internships or residencies. And they’re faced with the question of where they’re going to live for the next few years. Buying a home looks like a smart option—why throw away money on rent when you could be building equity in a hard asset? But it can also seem daunting…