Buy Your First Home in One Year: A Step-by-Step Guide

A real yard. Closets bigger than your average microwave. The freedom to decoratehowever you darn well please!Making the switch from renting to owning is exhilarating, but many rookie home buyers find the process trickier to navigate than they expected.

This is why we created our First-Time Home Buyer Checklist. The 12-month timeline will help you sidestep common mistakes, like paying too much interest or getting stuck with the wrong house. (Yep, it happens!)

12 Months Out

Check your credit score.Get a copy of your credit report atannualcreditreport.com. The three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) are each required to give you a free credit report once a year. A Federal Trade Commission study found one in four Americans identified errors on their credit report, and 5% had errors that could lead to higher rates on loans. Avoid last-minute bombshells by checking your score long before you're ready to make an offer. And work diligently to correct any mistakes.

How Much House Can You Afford?

There are plenty of calculators on the web to help you determine what you can afford. If you're pushing the limits, start reducing your debt-to-income ratio now. To get a reality check on what you may actually be spending every month.

Make a down payment plan.Most conventional mortgages require a 20% down payment. If you can swing it, do it. Your loan costs will be much less, and you'll get a better interest rate. If, however, you're not quite able to save the full amount, there are several programs that can help. FHA offers loans with only a 3.5% down payment. But they requiremortgage insurancepremiums, which will drive up your monthly payments. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a list of nonprofithome-buying programs by state.Alsocheck with creditunions; andyour employer might even have an assistance program.

As you're planning your savings strategy, keep in mind that banks like you to "season" your money. That is, they like to see that you've had stable funds in your account for 60 to 90 days before applying for a loan. Don't worry: You can still use a financial gift from a family member or bonus received near the time you buy.