Does your wife's employer offer a 401k?
If so, max that out this year ($18,000, add $6,000 if she is over 50) and again next year. Max out a roth for you and your spouse ($5,500, add $1000 if 50 or older).
If you do not have the money this year, but the sale of the house next year would cover it, you might just take out a short term loan in December of this year, fund 2017, and then pay off the loan when the sale of the house clears.
Your transcription work should qualify you for a SEP IRA. 25% of your earned income can go into one.