From homebuyer tax credits to IRA conversions, WalletPop experts tackle your questions

It's only the third week in 2010, but it's never too early to get your personal finances on the right track. Here are some answers from our WalletPop experts to your pressing questions:

Question:

My wife and I got married in January 2009. We have been renting a home the entire time we've been married. Prior to being married, I did not ever own a home, but my wife owned a home with her former husband that was sold less than three years ago.

We just purchased a home together, and anticipate closing next month. Is there any way we can qualify for at least a partial first-time homebuyer tax credit? For example, if we file separately, would I be eligible to claim half the credit? Neither of us have owned a home during the time we've been married, so basically I'm wondering whether her ownership of a home nearly two years prior to our getting married is somehow imputed to me?

--Jim, 40, Gurnee, IL