For the vast majority of people, buying a home is the single largest purchase they will make in their lifetimes. Saving up for a down payment of that magnitude can seem incredibly daunting, especially for first-time homebuyers. Here are 4 simple steps to take to move toward buying a home.

In the majority of real estate deals, a piece of property will be sold or purchased with either cash or bank financing. In the event that a buyer is unable to purchase the property outright due to inadequate funds, they will be subject to extensive bank underwriting before they can qualify for the loan. However, there is a third option for selling or buying a home, and this is through owner financing. Below is an overview of what it is and when buyers and sellers should use it.