HELPFUL MOVING TOOLS:
Keep track of your moving expenses. Many of these expenses can be deducted from your taxes if your qualify. Use our budgeting note pads and spreadsheet to budget and track moving-related costs.

tip: get out FREE budgeting and moving cost tools

Analyzing the Numbers is the First Step in Buying a Home

You've been waiting for the housing market to stabilize and the funds for a down payment are on hand. 2009 is shaping up as a the year you make an important financial decision -- purchasing a new home. Before you jump in, have you analyzed the numbers? Specifically, have you determined whether you have the financial wherewithal to buy a home, make monthly payments, and maintain your investment for years to come?

The first step in buying a home is understanding your financial picture, with five points to grasp before you take the next step:

Determine how much home you can afford. You may want to live in Beverly Hills but the numbers are indicating that a less tony L.A. suburb is much more affordable for you. Monthly payment and monthly affordability calculators can go a long way in helping you understand what you reasonably can afford.

What goes into the numbers. Your down payment, points, and closings costs must be considered. Weigh these costs against retirement funds, gift money, and other monies you can use and you'll know whether you have enough money to get started.

Consider the tax benefits of home ownership. Could it be that you cannot afford not to own a home? If you are in a high tax bracket, the deduction of your monthly mortgage interest, closing costs, and property taxes can reduce your overall tax burden. Taxes for high net-worth people is expected to go up following this fall's presidential elections if certain politicians have their way. Check with your financial advisor to learn how what your tax benefits will be.

Get pre-approved from a mortgage lender. Realtors like to pre-qualify people when it comes to determining whether (in their minds) you can afford a particular home or not. However, only a mortgage lender can say for sure whether you can afford that, not the realtor. Get a no obligation pre-approval letter from a your lender and bring that with you when you bid on a home.

Qualify for credit. Closely related to the pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender is qualifying for credit -- lenders look at two things when it comes to lending money: your capacity to repay the loan and your credit history. Expect your credit reports to be pulled, credit scores obtained, and current salary information and other important documentation supplied.

Once you have analyzed the numbers, the next step is to search for a home. We'll be discussing the second through seventh steps in the home buying process over the weeks ahead.

Getting Ready for the Big Move!

If you are planning to move, then you understand that you have a big task in front of you. If you are moving from one house to another house, you'll need to arrange for moving services and prepare well in advance to ensure that your move goes off as smoothly as possible. Making any kind of move is stressful; moving when you aren't prepared is downright nerve racking!

There are four stages to prepare for a successful move and we've provided some details which can help take the pressure off of you:

• 3-4 Months Prior To Your Moving Date -- Certainly, if you need to move quickly, you can. However, if you need to sell one house and purchase another one, then allowing several months to accomplish this task is the best approach. Use this time to search for your new abode, checking out neighborhoods, and estimating/budgeting your moving costs.
• Up To 2 Months Before You Move -- Select your moving options (moving company, U-Haul, moving pods, etc.) and set up the moving date. Inventory everything to be moved, sell off or donate unneeded items, and arrange for storage, if needed. At this point your housing arrangements on the other end should be done.
• About 1 Month Before Moving -- Complete the change of address forms for magazines and other subscriptions, notify your utilities (gas, electric, phone, internet, cable, cell phone, etc.) of your pending move, and obtain copies of your financial, dental, medical, and pet records. If you are moving far and will need to fly to your new home, then make your airline reservations at least 21 days in advance for the best prices.
• Around The Moving Date -- The time around your moving date will be when you are the busiest, therefore having the other steps completed will reduce your stress. However, stress will come! Make sure that your personal vehicles are ready to move (oil change, tune up, coolant, etc.) and that you have adequate room at your home for the moving van to pick up and transport your belongings. Settle all of your outstanding bills with local merchants and be prepared to leave your home as soon as the movers have completed their work.  Travel to your new home, unpack, and enjoy!

Of course if you are moving to college or moving internationally, the steps you take will be quite different, so please adjust accordingly.

• Finally, for your free moving guides, visit our tools section to obtain the information you need to help you prepare for an important transition.

Using A Moving Checklist

The thought of moving as one calendar gets thrown away and another one is put up may not seem to be the best time to make a move, but it can be the right time for the person who must make a move.You may not have planned it that way, but making moving just after Christmas or as the New Year dawns can be positive as it is the slowest time of the year for moving companies -- let them compete for your business! Also, when you get to your new home there will be no lawn to contend with as the grass will be dormant and the leaves swept away.We have some tips to share with you in a bid to help you manage your upcoming move. Please keep reading to gain some ideas on how you can make your move go as efficiently and stress-free as possible.

Make a Checklist --
Nobody plans to fail, but if you fail to plan then guess what? You'll be stressed out for weeks leading up to your move. Get a copy of our moving checklist and download our home moving budgeting worksheet to help you prepare.

Explore Your Moving Options --
Assuming that you have housing lined up, then planning your move is the first step you will want to take. If you are moving locally, are you planning to do the moving yourself? If so, Ryder, Penske, and other companies will rent a truck to you on a daily basis with gas and mileage extra. You may be able to handle this move by getting some friends and family members to help out. Leave the heaviest items including that Baby Grand piano for the professional movers instead.

If you are moving out of the area, professional movers can take your goods where you want to go. Popular today are those "pods" where you fill up a container with your household goods and a truck will come by and take it to your new home. An excellent way to save money while leaving the over the road moving to others.

Downsize, Clean Out the Clutter, and Get Organized --
Hold a yard sale, get rid of everything you know you'll never use again, and start packing away whatever you will not need until after you move. The more things you do in advance, the less you'll have to handle during crunch time.

Tell Everyone You Are Moving --
Even a local move can make it difficult for people to find you. Contact the post office and fill out a change of address form. Notify the utility companies (electric, gas, phone, internet, cable, etc.) of your pending move. Check with your cell phone carrier to make sure that service is available where you are moving to -- you should be able to keep your current cell phone number regardless.

Get Your Finances In Order --
How many people have made a move and forgot to make an important loan or credit card payment in the process, perhaps several? Avoid credit card fees, late payments, and a possible hit to your credit rating because you didn't remember to make payments. Notify your lenders in advance that you are moving to ensure that future bills are sent to your correct address. Better yet: choose electronic billing to have all of your bills go to your email inbox.

Bring Important Records With You --
If you have a safe deposit box at the local bank, make sure that you close it and remove the contents before you move. Get copies of your dental and medical records and bring them with you. School records, civic organization and religious memberships, and financial records from your accountant are other things to consider. If you have a pet, don't forget veterinary information to carry with you. Sounds like a lot to do, right? That is why starting early is a must!

Once you've got all of your paperwork together, furniture packed, and current property closed, then you are ready to go. Organize everything ahead of time and you'll avoid combining moving stress with holiday stress and you will come through it all in much better shape then you might have even thought possible.