Don't get a loan to pay off your cards. Try using either the Avalanche or the Snowball method to bring down your debt. There are YouTube videos that have extensive information on these two methods. Prep your own meals and refrain from going out to eat. Pause all investments including IRAs. Just invest enough of your salary to receive your company's matching contribution for your 401 K. Once you have ended your debt your options will open up immediately to save and invest more aggressively for a down payment. This will allow you to obtain a favorable mortgage rate from your lender in the future and frees up more cash for your monthly budget.