I bought my first home when I was 27 years old. For many that's not an amazing feat, but for me it was a pretty big deal -- particularly because I was living in New York City and I wasn't making anywhere near six figures. We all know that big city real estate prices are off the chart. And in case you're wondering, I'm not a trust fund kid. So how did I do it? The answer isn't particularly sexy but it's very true: I made sacrifices. I brought my lunch to work ($200 savings per month). I lived at home ($400 savings per month). I even cut out all of my relaxer and went natural ($300 extra savings per month). It wasn't fun or easy, but it was effective.

Unless you're expecting a financial boon you will also have to make some level of sacrifice become a home owner. The poor economy has resulted in an increased scrutiny over credit scores and higher percentage requirements for down payments. Gone are the days when you can get a loan for zero down or with a credit score of 600. Despite the tougher standards, owning your own space is still an attainable goal. Here are three tips on how to manifest the home of your dreams into reality:

1. Make a finite goal. Saving aimlessly is difficult. Create a goal amount that you want to get to and challenge yourself to make it there as soon as possible. (For example, if your ideal property costs $200,000 and you know you'll need to put 10% down, then set a goal of $20, 000 and create a savings budget around that amount.)
3. Open up a separate account. Don't commingle your house savings with your regular savings. This will ensure that you don't spend the money.
5. Decide where, what and when. Take the time to start looking at places as soon as possible. Checking out the market will help you fine tune what you want in a residence, help you be as realistic as possible about prices and motivate you to continue to save.