11/04/2026
THE REAL ESTATE GRILLZ
CAN YOU BUY A HOME IF YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY SAVED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT?
I HAVE SOME NEWS THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU!
YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED 20% DOWN TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER!
Depending on your qualifications, you may qualify for a mortgage with little or no down payment.
1. VA LOANS
VA guidelines:
Eligible buyers may qualify for 100% financing.
No down payment is generally required when the purchase price does not exceed the property's appraised value and other requirements are met.
2. USDA LOANS – ANOTHER ZERO-DOWN-PAYMENT OPTION!
USDA Guaranteed Loan Program:
Eligible buyers may qualify for 100% financing.
No down payment is generally required.
The property must be located in a USDA-eligible area.
Household income limits and other program requirements apply.
3. FHA LOANS
Under FHA guidelines:
Qualified borrowers with credit scores of 580 or higher may be eligible for a minimum down payment of 3.5%.
Borrowers with scores between 500 and 579 may be eligible with at least 10% down, subject to lender requirements.
4. CONVENTIONAL LOANS – AS LITTLE AS 3% DOWN!
Certain conventional mortgage programs let eligible borrowers buy with as little as 3% down.
5. DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
ARE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP QUALIFIED BUYERS WITH DOWN PAYMENTS AND CLOSING COSTS!
Some programs offer assistance through grants, forgivable loans, or second mortgages.
In Texas, programs are offered through organizations such as the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
IMPORTANT: Not every assistance program provides free money.
6. WHAT ABOUT CLOSING COSTS?
You still have expenses.
Appraisal fees
Home inspection fees
Lender fees
Title-related expenses
Prepaid homeowners insurance
Property tax and escrow deposit
On some mortgage programs and transactions, expenses may be covered by:
Seller concessions
Lender credits
Eligible gift funds
Down payment or closing cost assistance programs
7. DOES ZERO DOWN MEAN ZERO MONEY OUT OF POCKET?
Even when a mortgage requires no down payment, buyers still need funds for earnest money, an option fee, inspections, moving expenses, or other costs.
Some expenses may be credited toward the transaction or reimbursed at closing.
THAT'S WHY PLANNING IS SO IMPORTANT!
8. SHOULD YOU PURCHASE A HOME WITHOUT SAVINGS?
You should consider having money available for:
Unexpected repairs
Maintenance
Emergencies
Moving expenses
Future household needs
MY GOAL IS NOT SIMPLY TO HELP YOU PURCHASE A HOME.
MY GOAL IS TO HELP YOU PURCHASE A HOME YOU CAN AFFORD TO KEEP!
As your Realtor, I believe the homebuying process should begin with education, not pressure.
THE REAL ESTATE GRILLZ – WHERE REAL ESTATE EDUCATION COMES FIRST
Elzie K Felton, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty – Lone Star
📞 512-906-6659
🌐 ElzieFelton.com
I turn confusion into clarity, stress into confidence, and houses into homes.