Buying a second home by the beach or in the mountains is a dream shared by many people. Unfortunately, it can be difficult if not impossible to find the money to finance this dream. Tapping into the equity of your primary home in order to afford a vacation home can be dangerous and you risk losing both homes. See what Carmen Wong Ulrich suggests to allow you to enjoy your financial security, as well as a weekend getaway.

If you have a financial question you'd like Carmen to tackle, post it here in the comments or email us directly at ivcommunity@mail.ivillage.com

Watch Carmen Wong Ulrich's 'On The Money' Saturdays at 8PM ET on CNBC! Find more information on coping with the economy with our Bail Yourself Out resources.