If you are thinking about buying a new house, you may wonder how much your down payment amount? The amount you need to save for a down payment usually depends on your house’s price, salary, and loan financing options. It is suggested to evaluate all the factors that affect the down payment amount before starting your home buying process to stay within your affordable price range.
How Much Should You Save?
The first step to successfully start saving for a house down payment is by listing down your savings goal. Many banks and financial institutions provide an affordability calculator where you can insert your salary, debt, location, and down payment information to determine the price range you can afford. Besides, you can also consult a mortgage lender who can notify you about the mortgage loan you could qualify for depending on your annual income. The best way to get started on your down payment savings is by starting early on and maintaining a good financial transition throughout the process.
Here are some ways you can save for a down payment:
Deposit Your Savings and Windfalls
You can accumulate enough funds for your down payment if you make savings a daily habit and make regular contributions to your savings account. The best way to achieve this is by opening a separate savings account and setting up automatic payments. This will help you grow your savings funds and prevent you from spending the money you should save. In addition to making regular contributions to your savings, bank any windfalls like tax refunds, pay hikes, salary bonuses to your savings account.
Create a Separate Emergency Fund
If any unexpected situations like health issues, unemployment, or accidents occur, it could take a toll on your savings fund. Hence, it is recommended to create a separate emergency savings fund to deal with any unforeseeable scenarios so that your down payment goals are not affected.
Review your Budget and Cut Back on Expenses
Once savings becomes a regular part of your life, you can apply some alternate options to throw in some extra cash and boost your savings. This includes:
- Skipping travel for at least one year
- Cutting back on your entertainment or clothing expenses
- Canceling the gym membership and using a bike to work instead
- Selling out unwanted stuff that you own on eBay
- Adjusting your insurance premiums
- Holding spend-free weekends each month
It is important to understand that a down payment is a part of the funds you will require to buy a new house. You will also be needing large sums of cash to cover real estate taxes, insurance, utility adjustments, and so on. Lenders may also require you to have a certain amount of funds ready in your account to ensure that you are capable of making the first loan repayment.
Hiring a Mortgage Professional
You may feel overwhelmed in the beginning as you start saving for your down payment. However, you can hire a good mortgage professional who can explain all the finances associated with purchasing a house, help you set up your down payment goals, and prepare you to make educated purchase decisions. Rex Homes, a group of said professionals, has some additional information on the best ways to save for a down payment on their website here: https://blog.rexhomes.com/down-payment-savings-guide/
