1. Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use
receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months.
One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such
as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.
2. Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of
no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage,
which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need
to get the rest of installment debt—car loans, student loans, revolving balances
on credit cards—down to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total
income.
3. Get a handle on expenses. You probably know how much you spend on rent
and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend
for one month. You’ll probably see some great ways to save.
4. Increase your income. It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time
job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.
5. Save for a downpayment. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only
5 percent down—or even less in some cases—you can usually get a better rate
and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving a 20 percent
downpayment.
6. Create a house fund. Don’t just plan on saving whatever’s left toward a
downpayment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save,
then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.
7. Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify,
having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest
rate.
8. Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the
due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance
promptly.
Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
