It was a relatively uneventful week as Fed Chair Janet Yellen and Fed Vice Chair Stanley Fischer continued to reiterate the need for a gradual path of rate hikes. Inflation data came roughly in-line with forecasts, which kept ten-year inflation expectations at their highest level since the end of April. Equity and oil prices were up moderately while the euro depreciated against both the dollar and yen.

Not-so-breaking-news: home prices are on the rise, especially in large metro areas. In San Francisco, the median price for just an entry-level home is $450,600. Meanwhile, in Portland, average home prices grew 11% to $334,900 since last year. So saving for a down payment for your first house can be tough. Especially if you’re trying to buy that first home with student loans to pay off. And if you’d like to purchase that home super fast to lock in a competitive mortgage rate and put your rent money toward something that builds value, it can feel impossible.

But here’s the good news: It’s definitely doable, even within just 12 months, if you accelerate your savings and prepare wisely. Follow our strategy below to take that big step into home ownership fast.

SnappyScreen is a touchless sunscreen application system. You select your protection level (SPF) and height, step into a booth, and SnappyScreen applies a head-to-toe protective coating in about 10 seconds. The sunscreen is oxybenzone-free, paraben-free, alcohol-free and does not damage your bathing suit. It’s a slick and sought after product—one that can now be found at 4- and 5-star hotels across the U.S., in locations such as Florida, Hawaii, and California, and in such exotic locales as Aruba. Before the final launch, entrepreneurial sisters Kristen McClellan (founder and CEO) and Katelyn McClellan (COO) built several prototypes to refine the product and make the experience smooth and easy.

Got student loans? We’ve got you covered with our Student Loan Smarts blog series. Our expert tips and hacks will help you save money, pay off loans sooner, and stress less about student loan debt. Read the other posts in the series to get all the info you need to make intelligent decisions about your student loans.

Pop quiz: What’s the difference between student loan APR and student loan interest rate?

If you don’t know the answer, that’s completely understandable. It’s not information you need every day, but it will come in handy when applying for or refinancing student loans. Both terms impact how much money you’ll spend on total interest, so they should factor into your decision when comparing loans and lenders.

Discussing finances with your life partner can easily stir emotions, especially when autonomy is thought to be threatened or when one partner makes significantly more money than the other. Financial conversations require finesse and, of course, respect and understanding. And because emotions surrounding money are often tied to fear and can illicit strong reactions, those important conversations are sometimes avoided.