08/15/2026
I saw this post this morning, and the part that really got me was this comment that went along with it:
“Home ownership is basically something I will never achieve in my lifetime and I’ve accepted that.”
Please don’t accept that without finding out what YOUR numbers actually look like. ❤️
The post being shared says a starter home is $410,000, so the down payment would be $82,000.
Yes—that’s 20%.
But 20% down is NOT required to buy a home.
Depending on the buyer, the property, and the loan program, there may be options for:
🏡 3% down
🏡 3.5% down with FHA
🏡 5% down
🏡 0% down with USDA Rural Development for eligible buyers and properties
🏡 0% down with VA financing for eligible borrowers
🏡 Down-payment and closing-cost assistance programs
On a $410,000 home, the difference between assuming you need 20% and actually exploring your options is HUGE.
20% = $82,000
5% = $20,500
3% = $12,300
And for someone who qualifies for a zero-down program? The required down payment could be $0.
I am consistently helping young people buy homes—young married couples AND young single buyers. They aren’t all walking into the process with huge savings accounts or 20% down.
The first step is simply finding out what it takes.
Talk to a good LOCAL lender. Have an actual conversation about your income, credit, debts, available loan programs, and what you may qualify for. If you’re not ready today, find out exactly what you need to work on so you CAN be ready.
And don’t just look at the purchase price.
Ask the lender to show you what the actual monthly mortgage payment would look like—including estimated property taxes and homeowners insurance. Then compare that number to what you’re paying, or could be paying, in rent.
You might be surprised.
Does that mean buying a home is easy right now? No. Home prices are high. Interest rates matter. Taxes and insurance matter. Closing costs matter. And zero down doesn’t necessarily mean zero dollars out of pocket at closing.
But please don’t decide that homeownership is impossible based on the assumption that you need tens of thousands of dollars for a down payment.
You have to talk to someone. You have to know YOUR numbers. And you have to know what it takes to get there.
Maybe you’re ready right now.
Maybe you need six months or a year to get yourself into a better position.
Maybe there’s a loan program available that you didn’t even know existed.
But don’t look at a meme on Facebook—or hear someone say you need 20% down—and decide “I’ll never own a home.”
Find out first.
Because “not yet” and “never” are two very different things. ❤️🏡
If you have no idea where to start, reach out. I’m happy to connect you with a great local lender, answer your real estate questions, and help you figure out what the path to homeownership could actually look like for YOU.
