Yet even with all the help, nothing could prepare her for the sheer amount of paperwork needed to close the deal. "I didn’t realize that everything that had to be inspected, that at every stage of the process someone would have to get my signature or my fingerprint," James says. "Plus, everyone has to get paid. When you talk about closing costs and inspection costs and putting down such a large down payment, I pretty much put my life savings into it. I inherited some money from my grandparents and I saved money since I was in high school, and every dime I had went into the place."