Potential home buyers need to get their financial houses in order. People must be responsible for their own financial behavior that will keep others from putting them in risky loans. They need to know all sources of income and where every penny goes. One can’t know where costs can be cut until the potential homeowner knows in detail what those costs are. A budget will provide a roadmap to financial security. In addition to money for the down payment, lenders today will expect that the borrower has cash left over for insurance, taxes, maintenance and other costs that come with homeownership. The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook: Insider Secrets to Locating and Purchasing Pre-Foreclosed Properties in Any Market