Before you even worry about putting down any money, of course, you need to determine what you can afford. "This doesn't just mean figuring out what kind of monthly mortgage payment you can handle," says Chris Kawashima, CFP®, a director at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. "Th...
Before making a final decision, it may be useful to read analyst opinions, or reference the ratings provided by stock broker firms such as Schwab and others. Also, look at the "short interest" for a stock; this provides a measure of how many investors have a negative opinion about the co...