Call or Text 443-360-0086
One of the most common questions we receive lately is "how much do I need to buy a house?"
No matter how good the credit rating, today's home
buyer rarely has the luxury of buying with little or zero down. Unless
you are low, to mid-income with good credit, or a veteran, no-down loans
are also a thing of the past. Most lenders today want at least 20
percent of the loan amount as a down payment on a house. For a home
priced between $168,300 and $287,500, a home buyer would need to come up
with between $5,891 and $57,500 just for a down payment, depending on
your loan package. FHA, currently, only requires a down payment of 3.5%. Compass Home Group is proud to teach with Home Partnership in Harford
County, offering home buying grants as well to help with
closing/settlement costs. Make sure to contact us if interest in
learning more about Home Partnership grants in, or around, Harford County. Request a FREE 2014 Home Buying Guide Today!Then, there are closing costs to consider. These vary by county, but figure you'll pay over $2,000 on a $200,000 loan. Saving up this money takes time and careful planning. The best way to start is by coming up with a budget that is realistic enough for you to stick with and by using other tips to help you get ahead financially.
The Budget
The only thing more challenging than setting up the budget is sticking with it over the long run. Using personal finance software will help you set it up, but only self-discipline and the desire for a new house will motivate you to stick with it. First, you need to determine your total income from all sources. The second step is to list all the money that goes out every month, beginning with your fixed expenses. These include anything that has a fixed payment due every month, including: Rent or mortgage (if you have a fixed rate).
Car payment.
Insurance.
Child support and alimony.
Installment loan payments.
Next, list your variable expenses. These may be a little more difficult to track, so you may want to document them over the course of a week or two on a chart such as the spreadsheet offered for free by a Canadian credit counseling service. Common variable expenses include:
Utilities.
Telephone.
Cable or satellite TV.
Anything you purchase on a daily basis (morning coffee, etc.). Amy Fontinelle, writing at Investopedia, suggests that you track and update your budget daily so that nothing falls through the cracks.
Make Changes
Once you've used the budget for a month or two you'll be able to see where your money goes
every
week. This snapshot shows you where it's being wasted and, thus, where
to make cuts. Any items cut from the budget mean more money to set aside
for your house. Some of these cutbacks might include bringing a lunch
from home rather than hitting the café every day, riding your bike to work instead of driving or taking a cab, and using coupons to save money.Make More Money
Cutting your budget expenditures and paying down debt aren't the only ways to move more quickly down the road toward home ownership. Finding ways to bring in more money gives your plan a turbo boost. If you can take on overtime hours at work, do it. Consider holding a garage sale or selling unused items online. Sock away that extra cash for your down payment.
Savings
If you're like a lot of us, you may be tempted to use the money you're saving for something else that comes along. To avoid the temptation, put it in an online savings account that makes it difficult to withdraw. If you have to wait a few days for the money, you may think twice about withdrawing it. As you build your savings, avoid the urge to add to your debt. There will be plenty of time after you buy the house to buy furniture, a car or whatever else you might be thinking of purchasing. Keep that house you want top-of-mind to motivate yourself to stay out of debt and continue saving.
Compass Home Group of Keller Williams American Premier Realty
Tim Langhauser & Michele McCartin
Call or Text 443-360-0086 for information
Get a FREE REPORT of your HOME'S VALUE at www.ListWithCompass.com
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