Down payments can be the biggest one-off payment an American will make in their lifetime. Before you decide to purchase, you need to make sure you can afford the payments.

Use A Down Payment Assistance Program

There are down payment assistance programs that allow potential home buyers to afford purchasing a home without paying high amounts upfront. VA loans are available to veterans who are no longer able to work. These loans have no down payment requirements, and offer lower interest rates than conventional loans.

Specialized loans will require you to meet certain arrangements. For USDA loans, you need to be purchasing a home in rural lands, away from cities.

Downsize Your Lifestyle

A great method of saving for a down payment is by downsizing your lifestyle. This refers to cutting down on visits to restaurants, bars and nightlife activities. Try cutting for a month and comparing how much you’ve saved in comparison.

You could also move into a smaller house or apartment to help save on rent and utility bills. This will be a temporary solution that will save hundreds of dollars each month without doing anything.

Sell Some Old Belongings         

You probably have some belongings that you don’t need anymore. It could be some memorabilia you’ve had since you were young, such as baseball cards, or something more valuable that you have as an adult.

Figuring out what you need and what’s a priority will allow you to sell some goods. You will be surprised at how much you will earn from this, especially if you hold any valuable collectibles that are in demand. Check sites such as eBay from time to time to check if anything you own is becoming rarer and more valuable.

Use Cryptocurrency

You can use crypto as a payment method on home purchases in 2021. Bitcoin is currently the only crypto that you can use for property purposes, but the aim is for crypto to be used more. The Home Loan Expert have committed to the new wave of digital currencies, allowing you to take out a crypto loan. The company themselves have started purchasing their own asset supply of Bitcoin, becoming the first major U.S. mortgage lender to accept cryptocurrency as a down payment.

Set Aside Regular Savings

Saving accounts exist to allow you to make regular deposits every month. You can set up an account to do this automatically at a set date and amount. You’ll find you save more from this than doing it manually, as you will miss out on some days from forgetfulness.

You should set aside any tax refund you get, such as the federal income tax. Speaking to your employer will allow you to choose to withhold more, leaving more of your money going to the Internal Revenue Service. In return, you will get a larger income tax return.