Do you constantly find yourself wondering where your money went?  

Have you tried many different ways to save money but never saw any results?  Have you ever considered budgeting as a way to make sure your home buying process goes smoothly? You've probably heard about the benefits of planning ahead for things like home buying, but always seem to put it off. However, home buying is a huge step in anyone's life, and if you work out a budget ahead of time, home buying will be a much smoother process for you.

     Following a monthly home-buying budget can make or break your home search by giving you a sense of control over your financial future. A home-buying budget is much more than just another monthly expense broken down by home-related items. A home-buying budget covers all the expenses involved in closing on a home, including home inspections, loan fees and points, home warranty, homeowners' insurance premiums , down payments, home repairs before moving in , closing costs, monthly mortgage payments , home decor for your home, home staging costs, home improvements , home maintenance costs, moving expenses, landscaping , utilities, and miscellaneous extras.

     By creating a home-buying budget while you are still renting or living in an apartment or condo, you can put yourself in a better position to purchase that home of your dreams by knowing exactly which home expenses are coming up. You will want to try and follow a home buying budget as closely as possible to ensure home buying goes smoothly for you.  There are always surprise costs that can come up between the time the home enters escrow to closing. These  surprises can include appraisal issues, surprise repairs that need be addressed after closing that were not found during inspection, etc...  Be sure to allot some extra money in your home buying budget for these last-minute expenses .

Once you have your dream home, your budgeting doesn't stop! Remember to prepare and have ready these monthly bills covered: utilities, HOA, cable, garbage, lawn maintenance, etc..

Another tip: Create a home emergency fund! You'll want additional money saved in an emergency home repair fund to use when home home improvement projects  or home repairs occur during home buying.

Good luck with your home buying budget!