[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f39tjiwxjp0mmm":3,"$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},3843,"achieving-the-dream-of-homeownership","Achieving the Dream of Homeownership","Homeownership has long been considered the American Dream, and it’s one every American should feel confident and powerful pursuing. But owning a home is also a deeply personal dream. Our home provides us with safety and security, and it’s a place where we can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F23\u002Fwhen-a-house-becomes-a-home\u002F\">grow and flourish\u003C\u002Fa>.","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F13212446\u002F20220117-KCM-Share.jpg","Homeownership has long been considered the American Dream, and it’s one every American should feel confident and powerful pursuing. But owning a home is also a deeply personal dream. Our home provides us with safety and security, and it’s a place where we can \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F23\u002Fwhen-a-house-becomes-a-home\u002F\">grow and flourish\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C!--more-->\r\n\r\nToday, we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many of us will remember his passion and determination for the causes he championed, including his famous “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002F2010\u002F01\u002F18\u002F122701268\u002Fi-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety\">I Have a Dream\u003C\u002Fa>” speech in 1963. As we reflect on his message today, it may inspire your own dream of homeownership. And if so, know you’re not alone. With a trusted \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F26\u002Freasons-to-hire-a-real-estate-professional-infographic\u002F\">real estate advisor\u003C\u002Fa> at your side, you can begin your journey toward homeownership by answering the questions below.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>1. Where Do I Start?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nThe \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F11\u002F19\u002Fyour-journey-to-homeownership-infographic\u002F\">process\u003C\u002Fa> 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, how much space you need, what kind of commute works for you, and how much you can spend.\r\n\r\nThen, when you decide you’re ready to buy, you’ll need to apply for a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F27\u002Fkey-things-to-avoid-after-applying-for-a-mortgage\u002F\">mortgage\u003C\u002Fa>. Your lender will look at several factors to determine how much you’re able to borrow, including your credit history. Lenders want to understand how well you’ve managed paying your student loans, credit cards, car loans, and other past debts.\r\n\r\nAccording to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmyhome.freddiemac.com\u002Fbuying\u002Fwhat-can-you-afford\">\u003Cem>Freddie Mac\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>:\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“To get a rough estimate of what you can afford, most lenders suggest that you should spend no more than 28% of your monthly gross (pre-tax) income on your mortgage payment, including principal, interest, taxes and insurance.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>2. How Do I Save Enough for a Down Payment?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nSpeaking of how much you can afford, you’ll want to know what to save for a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2021\u002F12\u002F22\u002Fthe-perks-of-putting-20-down-on-a-home\u002F\">down payment\u003C\u002Fa>. While the idea of saving for a down payment can be daunting, there are many different options and resources that can help.\r\n\r\nAccording to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fpersonal-finance\u002Ftips-for-saving-for-a-down-payment\">\u003Cem>Business Insider\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>, automatic savings can bring you one step closer to achieving your target down payment:\r\n\u003Cblockquote>\u003Cem>“If you receive your paycheck as a direct deposit, you may want to arrange for your company to send a percentage of each check directly into a savings account for the down payment. . . .\u003Cstrong> The automatic-savings strategy makes it so you don't have to constantly remember to save money.”\u003C\u002Fstrong>\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. And the best part is, you may need to save less for your \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F03\u002Fhow-much-do-you-need-for-your-down-payment\u002F\">down payment\u003C\u002Fa> than you think. Your agent and lender can help you understand your options.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>3. How Can I Reach My Financial Goals?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nAnother way to increase your savings is by sticking to a planned budget. If you’ve never budgeted before, there are tools available. For example, \u003Cem>MoneyFit.org\u003C\u002Fem> provides a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fstatic1.squarespace.com\u002Fstatic\u002F5b1056f17e3c3a3d50d4605c\u002Ft\u002F5f8dbbd1c5bc3f25be3b180d\u002F1603124184016\u002FMoney+Fit+Automatic+Budget+Worksheet.pdf\">budgeting worksheet\u003C\u002Fa> you can use to create your own plan and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmoneyfit.org\u002Fhow-to-budget\">five rules\u003C\u002Fa> to follow when you’re saving. They recommend you:\r\n\u003Col>\r\n \t\u003Cli>\u003Cem>Identify Goals\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>\u003Cem>Record Expenses\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>\u003Cem>Record Earnings\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>\u003Cem>Compare and Calculate\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n \t\u003Cli>\u003Cem>Fix Weak Spots\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\r\n\u003C\u002Fol>\r\nIf you’re already budgeting, consider finding ways to tighten your spending a bit more to accelerate your journey to homeownership. After all, putting even a little extra into your savings each month can truly add up over time.\r\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Bottom Line\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\r\nAs you set out to realize your dream of homeownership this year, know that it’s achievable with careful planning. Most importantly, let’s connect today so you don’t have to walk alone on this journey.","\r\nAs you set out to realize your dream of homeownership this year, know that it’s achievable with careful planning. Most importantly, let’s connect today so you don’t have to walk alone on this journey.",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","2022-01-17T11:00:08Z","2022-11-16T17:06:44Z",{"id":27,"slug":28,"title":29,"featuredImage":30,"publishedAt":31,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},3841,"when-is-the-right-time-to-sell-infographic","When Is the Right Time To Sell [INFOGRAPHIC]","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F13133250\u002F20220114-KCM-Share.png","2022-01-14T11:00:14Z",{"id":33,"slug":34,"title":35,"featuredImage":36,"publishedAt":37,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},3842,"sellers-dont-wait-until-spring-to-make-your-move","Sellers: Don’t Wait Until Spring To Make Your Move","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F13152226\u002F20220118-KCM-Share.jpg","2022-01-18T11:00:33Z",{"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"]