10/13/2025
I spoke recently with a couple who had been wanting to buy for a few years. They’d found a place they liked, and called me. But, being considerate of everyone's time, they said, apologetically, “we can’t buy yet.”
I hear that a lot.
They were still saving for a down payment and trying to improve their credit. Both are important, but they weren’t sure where to start. They were just doing what most people do… saving when they could, paying down debt, and hoping it would eventually be enough.
When we talked through it, it turned out the two things holding them back were pretty common misconceptions:
1-Thinking they needed a huge down payment.
2- Believing their credit score wasn’t high enough.
Seems reasonable, but they’re not always true.
After connecting them with a local lender for some credit guidance, they learned something that changed everything.
Yes, their credit needed some improvement, but not much… and now they have a clear plan AND should only take a few months to get there. Some of the things they were doing before were actually slowing them down, not helping.
Then came their biggest surprise: the down payment.
They thought they needed 20%... they actually only need 3.5%.
In some cases, buyers can even get downpayment assistance.
For example, on a $450,000 home, that’s the difference between saving $90,000 and only $15,750. What felt impossible suddenly became very doable.
Buying doesn’t start with a house… it starts with a plan. If you’ve been wondering where to start, reach out anytime. I’m happy to walk you through what’s realistic and what might surprise you.
