Saving for a Down Payment

Saving for a down payment takes major commitment. It can be difficult to find ways in your current budget to make cuts, but with a little bit of discipline and the support of your spouse and family, you can get it done. Here are ten tips we collected from our experts here at Faber Homes:

 

1. If it’s just you, or you and your spouse, consider moving in with family for a couple years.
2. Not a fan of living with your in-laws? Find a less expensive, one bedroom apartment. You’ll give up a bit of space, but smaller apartments are generally less expensive.
1. Are you living in the western-Rochester area? Consider building with Faber Homes and we’ll set you up with an updated apartment in Chili. We incentivize renters for each year they reside in our Blueberry Apartments with cash towards your brand new Faber Home.
3. Have a couple extra hours to spare during the evenings or weekends? Picking up a second job for a short period of time can really you help save cash quickly. Consider picking up a shift at Home Depot or Lowes, so when you’re ready to build, you can also enjoy an employee discount for furnishings!
4. Do you really need that extra outfit? Probably not. You also don’t need to eat out as often as you are now. Cutting back on these expenditures can really go a long way.
5. If you’re contributing to your 401K at work, consider scaling back a percent or two just while you’re saving. Instead, boost contributions to your IRA. The first-home exemption rule allows individuals to use up to $10,000 in IRA funds toward the purchase of a first home without incurring the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.
6. Open a separate savings account. This will help you track your savings toward this one, specific goal.
7. Paying off debts is definitely a good thing, but if you can spare that extra monthly payment towards your balances, toss that money into your new savings account until you have enough for a down payment. Then go back to paying off those debts.
8. Inherited money and tax returns should go straight into savings accounts to earn interest. Keep those dollars out of sight so you aren’t tempted to use them!
9. Can you go without cable, Internet, or perhaps a smartphone that requires a data plan?
10. Don’t rule out going without a car for a year or two. It might seem drastic, but it will save you thousands. If you have two cars, consider making due with one.

These are our top ten tips for saving money for a down payment. Do you have any others to share that are working for you?

Crowdfunded Down Payment

Crowdfunding has become a popular way to quickly raise funds for…anything. Some people have set up accounts to raise funds for weddings, vacations, new business ventures and even schooling. Would you entertain the idea of setting up a crowdfunding account to raise money for a down payment on your home? If so, here are some of the top crowdfunding websites you might consider:

Indiegogo. As one of the first crowdfunding websites in the industry, Indiegogo approves donation-based fundraising for pretty much any task, project or idea. Friends and family (or strangers) can donate using PayPal or credit cards either online or via the Indiegogo mobile application.

Crowdrise. Specifically designed for charities or causes and personal needs, Crowdrise is one of the fastest growing crowdfunding platforms. Often used for birthdays, weddings and races, it is perfectly suited for collecting donations to your personal fund.

gofundme. The personal campaigns function of gofundme connects easily to social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, so it’s one of the most popular funding websites. The platform also lets you send thank you notes to those who help you out.

Do you have experience with other reputable crowdfunding websites? Share them in the comments below.