1.  Know how much you have and how much you owe.  How much income are you receiving at present?  Is there a chance that it would increase?  What will be your financial situation several years from now?

How much money do you owe to creditors?  How much monthly payments do you make?  Can you still afford to shell out more money after the bills are paid?

You’ll need a consistent source of income that can cover your mortgage and other expenses.  Try to foresee possibilities that you’ll need to factor in: a new child, changes in the job, back-to-school plans and cash-flow five or several years from now.  Be prepared to be in it for the long haul.

2.  If your debts are well managed, then you can afford a home mortgage.  The lender will approve your loan more quickly if he sees that your debt-to-income ratio is well within manageable range.

The lender will ensure that your payments will only total 33% or less of your monthly gross income.  Otherwise, pay off some of your debts before applying for a home mortgage.

3.  Decide which one you prefer: fixed, adjustable or balloon rates.  Paying a fixed rate is a more popular choice because it can protect you from surges in interests while paying the lowest rate possible for an agreed period of time may be lighter on your budget, but your mortgage payment can go up later.

4.  Interest rates will go up and down depending on the activity of the market.  If you can read and understand market trends and economic indicators, you can save a lot of money.

5.  Be prepared to pay a downpayment.  Typically, it is about 20% of the total price.  A house priced at $200,000 will require a down of $40,000.  There are also loans with low or no-downpayments, but it will cost you in terms of equity in the long run.

6.  You have enough money saved that’s equivalent to at least three months’ monthly income.  This will help cover unexpected expenses that could affect your mortgage payments.