Saving for a house while renting can be challenging. Increasing rent costs, along with other living expenses, can make setting aside a home down payment difficult. Fortunately, you can take steps to save for a house while renting. The following guidelines can help. 1. Improve Your Debt-to-Income Ratio Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the sum of your monthly debt payments divided by your monthly gross income. Although 25% or less is best, you might secure a mortgage with