[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$foa1ft8f06b9i":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":38,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":42},{"item":4,"previous":26,"next":32},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":13,"bodyImage":9,"isInfographic":14,"categories":15,"isVideo":14,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":24,"updatedAt":25},1538,"make-the-dream-of-homeownership-a-reality-in-2020","Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality in 2020","In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. led and inspired a powerful movement with his famous “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthesource.com\u002F2014\u002F01\u002F20\u002F10-standout-quotes-from-martin-luther-king-jr-s-i-have-a-dream-speech\u002F\">I Have a Dream\u003C\u002Fa>” speech. Through his passion and determination, he sparked interest, ambition, and courage in his audience. Today, reflecting on his message encourages many of us to think about our own dreams, goals, beliefs, and aspirations. For many Americans, one of those common goals is owning a home: a piece of land, a roof over our heads, and a place where our families can grow and flourish.","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F17164731\u002F20200120-KCM-Share.jpg","In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. led and inspired a powerful movement with his famous “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthesource.com\u002F2014\u002F01\u002F20\u002F10-standout-quotes-from-martin-luther-king-jr-s-i-have-a-dream-speech\u002F\">I Have a Dream\u003C\u002Fa>” speech. Through his passion and determination, he sparked interest, ambition, and courage in his audience. Today, reflecting on his message encourages many of us to think about our own dreams, goals, beliefs, and aspirations. For many Americans, one of those common goals is owning a home: a piece of land, a roof over our heads, and a place where our families can grow and flourish.\u003C!--more-->\r\n\r\nIf you’re dreaming of buying a home this year, the best way to start the process is to connect with a Real Estate professional to understand what goes into buying a home. Once you have that covered, then you can answer the questions below to make the best decision for you and your family.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>1. How Can I Better Understand the Process, and How Much Can I Afford?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nThe process of buying a home is not one to enter into lightly. You need to decide on key things like how long you plan on living in an area, school districts you prefer, what kind of commute works for you, and how much you can afford to spend.\r\n\r\nKeep in mind, before you start the process to purchase a home, you’ll also need to apply for a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2019\u002F10\u002F11\u002Fwhat-you-need-to-know-about-the-mortgage-process-infographic-3\u002F\">mortgage\u003C\u002Fa>. Lenders will evaluate several factors connected to your financial track record, one of which is your credit history. They’ll want to see how well you’ve been able to minimize past debts, so make sure you’ve been paying your student loans, credit cards, and car loans on time. Most agents have loan officers they trust that they can refer you to.\r\n\r\nAccording to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.consumerreports.org\u002Fmortgages\u002Fhow-much-mortgage-can-you-afford\u002F\">\u003Cem>ConsumerReports.org\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>,\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cem>Financial planners recommend limiting the amount you spend on housing to 25 percent of your monthly budget.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>2. How Much Do I Need for a Down Payment?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nIn addition to knowing how much you can afford on a monthly mortgage payment, understanding how much you’ll need for a down payment is another critical step. Thankfully, there are many different \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F06\u002Fhow-much-do-you-know-about-down-payments\u002F\">options\u003C\u002Fa> and resources in the market to potentially reduce the amount you may think you need to put down up front.\r\n\r\nIf you’re concerned about saving for a down payment, start small and be consistent. A little bit each month goes a long way. Jumpstart your savings by automatically adding a portion of your monthly paycheck into a separate savings account or house fund. \u003Cem>AmericaSaves.org\u003C\u002Fem> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Famericasaves.org\u002Ffor-savers\u002Fsave-automatically\">says\u003C\u002Fa>,\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“Over time, these automatic deposits add up. For example, $50 a month accumulates to $600 a year and $3,000 after five years, plus interest that has compounded.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\r\nBefore you know it, you’ll have enough for a down payment if you’re disciplined and thoughtful about your process.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>3. Saving Takes Time: Practice Living on a Budget\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nAs tempting as it is to settle in each morning with a fancy cup of coffee from your favorite local shop, putting that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F23\u002Fa-latte-a-day-keeps-homeownership-away-infographic\u002F\">daily spend\u003C\u002Fa> toward your down payment will help accelerate your path to homeownership. It’s the little things that count, so start trying to live on a slightly tighter budget if you aren’t doing so already. A budget will allow you to save more for your down payment and help you pay down other debts to improve your credit score. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bankrate.com\u002Fmortgages\u002Fmillennials-homeownership-sacrifices\u002F\">survey\u003C\u002Fa> of Millennial spending shows,\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“70 percent of would-be first-time homebuyers will cut spending on spa days, shopping and going to the movies in exchange for purchasing a home within the next year.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\r\nWhile you don’t need to cut all of the fun out of your current lifestyle, making smarter choices and limiting your spending in areas where you can slim down will make a big difference.\r\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Bottom Line\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\r\nIf homeownership is on your dream list this year, take a good look at what you can prioritize to help you get there. Let’s get together today to discuss the best steps you can take to start the process.","\r\nIf homeownership is on your dream list this year, take a good look at what you can prioritize to help you get there. Let’s get together today to discuss the best steps you can take to start the process.",false,[16,20],{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers","2020-01-20T10:00:06Z","2020-01-20T11:01:03Z",{"id":27,"slug":28,"title":29,"featuredImage":30,"publishedAt":31,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},1537,"where-homebuyers-are-heading-by-generation-infographic","Where Homebuyers Are Heading By Generation [INFOGRAPHIC]","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F16152100\u002F20200117-KCM-Share.jpg","2020-01-17T11:00:59Z",{"id":33,"slug":34,"title":35,"featuredImage":36,"publishedAt":37,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},1539,"the-2-surprising-things-homebuyers-really-want","The 2 Surprising Things Homebuyers Really Want","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F01\u002F17114622\u002F20200121-KCM-Share.jpg","2020-01-21T10:00:42Z",{"cover":39,"open":40,"shareSpread":41},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[43,47,48,52,56,60,64,65,69,73,77,81,85,89,93,97,101,105,109,113,117,121,125,129,133,137,141,145,149,153],{"id":44,"name":45,"slug":46},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":53,"name":54,"slug":55},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":57,"name":58,"slug":59},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":61,"name":62,"slug":63},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},{"id":66,"name":67,"slug":68},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":74,"name":75,"slug":76},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":82,"name":83,"slug":84},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":86,"name":87,"slug":88},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":90,"name":91,"slug":92},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":94,"name":95,"slug":96},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":102,"name":103,"slug":104},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":106,"name":107,"slug":108},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":110,"name":111,"slug":112},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":118,"name":119,"slug":120},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":122,"name":123,"slug":124},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":130,"name":131,"slug":132},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":138,"name":139,"slug":140},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":142,"name":143,"slug":144},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":146,"name":147,"slug":148},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":150,"name":151,"slug":152},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":154,"name":155,"slug":156},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]