Saving for a downpayment is one of the first steps to buying a home --apart from getting pre-qualified for a mortgage. Starting your savings also requires quite a bit of commitment. It takes discipline to forgo that weekend getaway with friends or reduce everyday purchases like your usual morning latte. But when you're saving for a house, every purchase and dollar saved must be a deliberate choice.

But where's the best place to store your home-savings nest egg? After all, you'll be saving in the tens of thousands, not just a couple of thousand. Lenders will also need to verify where your downpayment came from, meaning they'll want to see a record of deposits that prove your savings efforts or gifted funds.

Here are some suggestions for where to