Question: how much money should you have before buying your first home?
Answer: Saving 20% of your income could catapult you into purchasing a home in the next 12 to 16 months, depending on your market. For example, if you're earning $96,000 per year, that's $19,200 saved after one year. $28,800 saved after a year and six months, which can be plenty of funds to make home-ownership a reality.