Are you trying to buy a new home, but you feel like it’s out of reach? You’re not alone. Housing prices have been rising faster than income for a long time. If you have a small budget, you might be discouraged.

However, there are other options! If you get creative in the home buying process, you can access a home more easily than you think. After you buy a home, there are steps you can take to keep your spending lower as well.

What are some ways you can buy a home even if you have a smaller budget? Let’s take a look.

Find Unique Ways to Save

It’s hard to buy a home for a variety of reasons. It’s harder to get a loan than it used to be because there have been financial crises that affected the banking industry. Homes are expensive, and income is not keeping up.

But that doesn’t mean saving is impossible. You might be able to live with your family as an adult and help out around their home while you save money. Perhaps you can find a group of friends that can rent an apartment together so each of you pays a lot less.

As you save, make sure you know what your goal is. You might be able to find special mortgages that need a lower down payment or have other advantages, which means you can buy your property sooner.

Know What You Need in a Home

There are a lot of different types of homes available. In order to save for this significant purchase, it’s essential that you know what your needs are.

Do you need two bedrooms, or can you get by with only one? Do you need an entire house or would a condominium work just as well? Do you want to be in an urban setting, or could you save money by purchasing a property that’s outside the city?

Once you know what your non-negotiables are, you can focus on saving for a home with those features. Everything else can come later.

Live in Community

Sometimes owning a home by yourself isn’t something you can afford, but if you get together with friends you can buy a property together. When you live in community, you all share the responsibility of the home.

That does require some coordination. For example, you might need to set up a schedule for cleaning chores so everyone does their fair share. It’s also important to enforce everyone paying their portion of the house payment.

Living together can test friendships, so make sure that everyone you choose to live with is responsible and willing to work hard to keep the house in good shape!

Make Wise Choices for Entertainment

Sometimes people who buy a home find that because of the house payment, they have less money for going out than they used to. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to make less expensive entertainment choices.

For example, instead of going to the club, you could enjoy drinks and a party at your own home. Or, you could choose quieter pursuits such as watching a movie, enjoying dinner with friends, or having a game night at your house.

You can also choose free entertainment, such as going to a park or checking out historical areas of your city. Even though you’ve lived there a long time, you can discover entirely new areas!

Making low-cost entertainment choices is a great way to save up for your house as well as afford the bills once you start living there.

Search for Great Deals on Home Essentials

When you buy a house, you have to furnish it with essential items. That includes everything from plates and silverware to furniture.

There are some things, like a mattress, that you should always buy new. Shop around to find a good deal. Other items you can find used. Carefully look for high-quality items online or in thrift shops.

When you can get home essentials for a reasonable price, you don’t have to worry as much about the cost of living in your home.

Choose Energy Efficiency

Part of affording a home is being able to pay the bills once you move it. One of the best ways to do this is to choose energy-efficient habits and appliances. For instance, you can replace your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs and ensure that you use your appliances during times when electricity is less expensive.

By making choices that allow you to avoid unnecessary water and electricity usage, you can not only afford to buy a home, you can live there comfortably — even on a small budget!

Don’t Assume You Can’t Buy a Home

Just because you have a minimal budget doesn’t mean you can’t buy a home. With some clever strategies, you can afford the purchase and live there comfortably afterward.

Start by making sure you know exactly what you want in your home, along with what you can do without. Then, find creative ways to save. Consider living with friends both before and after you buy your house, and save money by finding low-cost entertainment and conserving energy.

When you take these steps, you’ll find that not only can you buy a home, you’ll love the process!

By Ainsley Lawrence