By Andrea Woroch

More Americans than ever are buying homes. In fact, a report from Zillow estimates 6.9 million existing home sales this year, the most since 2005, and projects a nearly 22% one-year gain in sales, the largest jump since the early 1980s.

If you are among the millions hunting for a home, it’s important to get a few money items in order first. One of the most important financial steps in the home buying process is saving for a down payment. However, considering 72% of prospective homebuyers said their home savings plan was disrupted by the pandemic, according to a recent report from ImproveNet, getting back on track may feel impossible.

Whether you’ve been dreaming of buying a home for years or just started thinking about it, don’t wait to start saving...