savemorehaven

Saving for a first home

Your first home starts with a savings plan.

Plain-English guides to getting ready to buy: what owning really costs, how much to put down, down payment assistance, closing costs and the Loan Estimate, and how to avoid the scams that target homebuyers at closing.

Plan your savings Down payment options

Our first home fund$12,000 of $42,000

  • Emergency fund in placeDone
  • First $10,000 savedDone
  • 10% down payment$30,000
  • Closing costs, about 3%$9,000
  • Moving and setup$3,000

At $900 a monthAbout 31 months

An illustrative example for a $300,000 home, with savings earning 4%. Your numbers will differ.

Start with one of these

CalculatorDown payment savingsHow long until you're ready. ComparisonDown payment optionsFrom 0% to 20% down. ChecklistFirst HomeSixteen steps to get ready.

15 first home guides

Getting ready

The down payment

The process

Protect yourself

Free download, no email needed

The First Home Savings Workbook

Estimate the cash you'll need to close, make a savings plan, check your credit and debt, compare renting with owning and gather the documents lenders ask for.

Get the free PDFSee the First Home checklist

Coming soon

Your first home fund, on track

Haven Home Savings app: a down payment goal with milestones, a cash-to-close estimate, a credit and debt checklist, and a tracker for the documents lenders ask for.

$3 a month, or $24 a year. Cancel any time.

How it works