Does it seem like everyone around you owns their own home and now you’re feeling the pressure to become a homeowner, too? Buying a home in Atlanta can be a great investment, but it is one of life’s biggest financial commitments, so you need to make sure you’re ready.

How can you do that? Here are a few things to think about:

• Your Future Monthly Budget – Buying a home today requires a fair amount of cash on-hand. There’s your down payment, moving expenses, old and new bills, utilities, new home repair/set up costs, etc., as well as your existing expenses for things like groceries, automobile expenses and other general living expenses. Be sure that you will be able to handle those first few months and years of homeownership, as that is when your funds and budget will be the tightest.
• Practice Makes Perfect – If you are currently able to save what you would be paying on a new home mortgage while renting, you know that you could do it in your own home. Try setting aside the full amount of what would be your new home expenses (minus your rent, of course) into a savings account to get into the habit of paying what you would in a new home.
• Your Employment is Steady – Of course you need a job that will provide income to pay your mortgage, but you also need to be in a job that you feel confident is for the long-term. Is it a job you really like? How likely are you to be let go? While none of us can completely predict our future employment conditions, it’s important to be as confident as possible that you will be in a job that will ensure your ability to pay your mortgage.
• It’s What You Want to Do – You shouldn’t buy a home because you think it’s what you’re supposed to do, or because you feel pressure from friends or family to do so. But if you do want to become a homeowner, start your research and planning now so that you’ll be as knowledgeable and prepared as possible as soon as the time is right.