Even though it's two years ahead of schedule, there's nothing like a good plan.
To prepare yourself I'd work on paying down the credit cards to do two things, #1 is for a boost in the credit scores, and #2 is to reduce your debt to income ratio in order to qualify for more of a mortgage/home or to have an easier time qualifying for that part of the mortgage requirements. Keep on using your credit cards and paying them off in full each month, this increased usage will also increase credit scores gradually.. but then when it's time to have your credit pulled, have them paid off completely for the maximum credit score increase. If you don't have any installment loans on your credit (student loans, car loans/leases, furniture financing, personal loan, etc.) I'd obtain a small one or two for something you'd pay off in 12 months or so, as diversity on the credit reports helps obtain a healthy score too.
Plan on using some of the sales proceeds on your house and his home as a down payment on the new home. 3% is currently the minimum with most loan programs but I'd be prepared for possibly more as mortgage guidelines are getting more restrictive as of late. Also recommend to have at least two months of your proposed payment remaining in your financial reserves in order to have an easier time qualifying.
Also if you need you, and can, take less deductions on your taxes for the next couple years to increase the amount you can qualify for. If you need to would be determined by your debt to income ratio. You'll need to go over what price range you are thinking of buying in, how much of a down payment there will be, and what your minimum monthly payments on debt will be at that time.
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