She started counting on her fingers. "There are that only require 3.5% down . If you were a veteran, you could use a VA loan for 0% down . And since this house is on the edge of town, it might even qualify for a USDA loan , which is also 0% down for rural and suburban areas."
"Exactly," Sarah smiled. "Now, let’s go see your new kitchen."
The old blue sedan sputtered as Maya pulled into the driveway of a small, sun-drenched ranch style house. It wasn’t a mansion, but to her, it looked like a palace. She’d been dreaming of this since she was a kid, but there was one thing holding her back: her bank account. do i need money down to buy a house
Her real estate agent, Sarah, met her at the front door. Seeing Maya’s hesitant face, Sarah didn’t start by showing off the kitchen. Instead, she sat Maya down on the porch steps.
"Not quite nothing," Sarah cautioned. "You still have —things like inspections, taxes, and fees—which usually run another 2% to 5% of the price. But you can often ask the seller to help cover those, or look into down payment assistance programs that your state offers for people exactly like you." She started counting on her fingers
Maya’s eyes widened. "Wait, so I could buy this with... almost nothing upfront?"
Maya looked at the house again. The peeling white paint on the trim didn't look like a chore anymore; it looked like a project. The idea that she didn't have to wait another decade to have a place of her own started to sink in. And since this house is on the edge
"So," Maya said, standing up and reaching for the doorknob. "I don't need a mountain of gold. I just need a plan."