3 steps to figure out how much mortgage you can afford

Follow this three-step process to help you determine how much you should spend on a home.

1. Prepare a budget

In order to determine the mortgage payment you can afford, you need to first prepare a budget. It is critical to include the proper short-term savings and long-term investing in your budget before you establish the amount to allocate toward a mortgage payment. While owning a home can help build your net worth, it is an extremely illiquid asset that is not easily converted to cash. You should make certain that you have enough in short-term savings to pay your mortgage for at least six months in the event of an unforeseen financial setback. Also, make certain not to reduce your long-term savings goals for things such as retirement or your children’s future college education expenses.

2. Account for increased expenses

The good news is many of your budgeted items will not change with the purchase of a new home. For example, dining, food, clothing, and travel expenses will likely remain as they were before the move. However, some items like homeowners insurance, lawn care, pool maintenance, HOA dues, and utilities may increase when you purchase a residence. Property taxes will also likely increase, so just plugging in the amount the current owner pays may result in errors. If your purchase price is higher than the value listed on the tax rolls (as is commonly the case), you should recalculate the property tax based on the purchase price you will pay. It may take up to a year for the taxing authority to update the tax rolls, but eventually the purchase price will be used to determine your property tax due.

3. Determine your optimal mortgage payment

Once you have prepared a new budget, it will become apparent how much of a mortgage payment you can afford. If the amount you can afford is less than the amount you want to borrow, it may be necessary to adjust other budget items. Focus on reducing discretionary (non-essential) expenses. For example, you might consider reducing the amount you spend on vacations, entertainment, dining out, hobbies, and even your monthly television subscription so you can allocate more toward your new home. It is also a good idea to shop around for your auto insurance policy at the same time you are getting new homeowner insurance. Bundling these two policies with the same insurance company can often reduce your monthly premium by as much as 20%. All of these little changes to your budget can add up to a tidy sum that can help you purchase the home of your dreams.

Buying a home is no small feat, and there are many financial ins and outs to navigate as you prepare for this step in your life. As parting tips, don’t forget that you’ll need cash for your down payment (which will also influence the amount of your loan), and it’s helpful for you to check your credit report before speaking to a lender so you understand whether your lender will view you as a high-risk or low-risk borrower. Planning is key, and the more thought and energy you put into the process ahead of time, the more smoothly the home-buying process will go.

Clark Randall, Credit.com