Are you a prospective home buyer? If you are, then here's a tip for you that can save you a lot of time.

Before you even begin enter the home buying mode, the first thing you should do is calculate how much you can afford in house payment. This can save you the time of looking at a lot of places you just can't afford. And here there is one simple guideline that can help: mortgage companies are reluctant to loan you if your monthly payment will be more than 30% of your gross monthly income. You can get some real good advince from the US Department of Housing.

Before choosing a realtor, selecting a mortgage company, or buying a home, compare different sites to find the one that best fits you and your needs.