As my husband and I prepare to buy our first home, we’re coming to terms with how much money we really need to save.

The prices in the Southern California house market are staggering enough, but there are always more hidden expenses that you need to think about than just the cost of the house.

If you’re thinking about buying a house, you definitely want to increase your savings substantially. Will you have enough for 20% down payment? If not, you may have to look into an FHA loan which has lower down payment requirements.

If you haven’t already done so, you may also want to think about lowering your debt as much as possible. Lowering your debt makes you look like a more stable client when a lender is thinking about lending you money.