Budgeting For a New Home

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Over my years working with new and first-time home buyers, I’ve learned quite a bit about budgeting to buy a new home.

And now I’m going to share my knowledge with you. Here are 5 budgeting tips that will keep you from overextending yourself when buying a new home.

1. Track your spending. Before you can set a budget, you need to get honest about what you’re spending every month and what you’re spending it on. This means digging into your credit card statements, too. 

2. Establish a budget. After you have a better idea of where your money is going, it’s time to set a budget. I’ll be real with you. Nobody likes setting and sticking to a budget. But if you want to keep your finances on track, you have to decide what you’re willing to give up so you can set aside money for a down payment, home improvements, or closing costs.

3. Save. A cool trick about saving I learned a while back is to make “pre-mortgage” payments. Basically, you just head over to a basic mortgage calculator and figure out how much your monthly mortgage might be. From there, you’d deposit that amount into your savings account (minus your current mortgage or rent amount). You’ll quickly find out if your new mortgage amount is feasible and, if it works, you’ll be saving money in the process!

4. Optimize your credit score. You can get a free copy of your credit report every year, and you’d better believe it’s worth it. On your report, you’ll find your payment history, how much credit you’re using compared to what you have available, your credit history, and more. Look through the report carefully and make sure it’s accurate.

5. Automate! One of the best ways to reach your financial and savings goals is to automate as much as possible. You can easily set up automatic transfers to move money from checking to savings after you get paid (or set your direct deposit to split it before it even gets to your bank). And once you do, there are tons of apps that will track your spending, budget, and goals automatically!

Ready to buy a home? I have some recommendations for great lenders. Let’s chat! 

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Sandoval Realty Group

Sandoval Realty Group

Hey, I’m Christine Sandoval! I am a dedicated and experienced Realtor® serving the Inland Empire. As a native of Rancho Cucamonga, I have built a reputation for providing top-notch service and achieving outstanding results for my clients. With over a decade of experience in the real estate industry, I am an advocate for my clients' best interests. I have a passion for helping families find their forever homes. Coming from a law enforcement and military family, I pride myself in being a Military Relocation Specialist with a commitment to helping veterans and first responders. When I am not busy helping my clients navigate the world of real estate, I enjoy spending time with my family chasing my twin boys around, while traveling and exploring the many hidden gems of the Inland Empire. See you around the IE!
Hey, I’m Christine Sandoval! I am a dedicated and experienced Realtor® serving the Inland Empire. As a native of Rancho Cucamonga, I have built a reputation for providing top-notch service and achieving outstanding results for my clients. With over a decade of experience in the real estate industry, I am an advocate for my clients' best interests. I have a passion for helping families find their forever homes. Coming from a law enforcement and military family, I pride myself in being a Military Relocation Specialist with a commitment to helping veterans and first responders. When I am not busy helping my clients navigate the world of real estate, I enjoy spending time with my family chasing my twin boys around, while traveling and exploring the many hidden gems of the Inland Empire. See you around the IE!
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