Should I just save more for a bigger down payment?

It depends on what prices do while you save, which nobody knows in advance. The honest version: a bigger down payment lowers your payment and removes mortgage insurance sooner, and waiting costs you whatever the market does in the meantime. Price both paths rather than assuming either.

On conventional loans, yes - automatically at 78% LTV. On FHA, generally not unless you refinance.

Are gift funds allowed?

Yes, on most low-down programs. We document the gift properly to keep underwriting clean.

What about closing costs?

Closing costs are separate from the down payment. Many programs allow seller credits or rolled-in costs.

Loan option

Low Down Payment Options

You don't need 20% down to buy a home. With the right program, you can close with as little as 0% - and we'll match you to the lowest-down option you qualify for.

Get a quote Pre-qualify

What Low Down Payment Options actually is.

The 20%-down rule is a myth left over from another era. Today's first-time buyers close on great homes with as little as 0% down using a VA loan, 3% with conventional, or 3.5% with FHA.

The right program depends on your military status, location, credit, and goals. We screen every borrower across all available programs - including state down-payment assistance - and show you the lowest-cost path to your keys.

Sometimes the best move is to put less down and keep cash for reserves, repairs, and emergencies. A skilled loan officer can help you weigh the tradeoffs.

Illustrative sample figures for a template demonstration. Not a rate quote, not an offer to lend, and not live market data.

Who this fits

Buyers with limited savings but strong income
Renters ready to convert monthly rent into equity
Buyers eligible for VA, USDA, or DPA programs
Conventional buyers willing to accept PMI

Check whether you qualify

What this program buys you.

Many Programs Available: Conventional 3% down, FHA 3.5%, VA 0%, USDA 0%, plus DPA stacks.
Keep Cash For Reserves: A larger reserve cushion is often more valuable than a bigger down payment.
PMI Can Be Removed: On conventional loans, PMI drops off automatically once you reach 22% equity.
Start Building Equity Now: Every month of homeownership beats another month of rent paying someone else's mortgage.

The process

Four moves from first call to keys.

Each step has one job and one owner. You always know which of the four the file is sitting in.

01Eligibility CheckWe screen your file against every low-down program you could qualify for, including state assistance.
02Compare OptionsSee side-by-side payment and cost comparisons.
03Pre-ApproveGet a pre-approval letter at your selected program.
04CloseSign, fund, and record. Your first payment is due the month after the month you close.

Questions this program raises.

If yours is not here, ask it. You will get an answer in writing from the officer who would work the file.

Other programs

Get this priced against your own file.

Tell us the scenario and we will come back with real figures for Low Down Payment Options, and for the programs you did not ask about, so you can see all of them at once.