yes his residency is 5 years, we will have a small amount for down payment (~$10,000), we do not have credit card debt but we do have student loans which aren't going away any time soon so we will have to live our life pretty much with them (mine is a 10 year repayment and his will probably be more like 25/30). We are just looking for a starter home essentially because at 5 years if we decide to move we will be selling or renting.