Two types of government-sponsored loans – VA loans and USDA loans – allow you to buy a home without a down payment.
USDA loans
There are many areas you might not consider “rural” that do qualify under USDA guidelines, so be sure to check your eligibility on the USDA website. USDA loans don't require a down payment, but borrowers must meet credit and income requirements to qualify.
VA loans do not normally required a down payment. A VA loan amount is 100% of the purchase price if the purchase price does not exceed the maximum loan amount.
USDA loans: Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans help moderate- to low-income borrowers buy homes in rural, USDA-eligible areas. These loans don't have a credit score or down payment requirement, but do charge guarantee fees.
When buying a new car or a house, it is common for the buyer to make a down payment to secure the purchase. However, when purchasing a cell phone, down payments are usually not required. Instead, cell phone purchases are often financed through monthly installment plans.
VA and USDA loans allow zero down payments. Conventional loans start at just 3% down, while FHA loans require at least 3.5% down.
The only way to get a zero-down payment mortgage from major mortgage investors is through a government-backed loan, which is insured by the federal government. In other words, the government (along with your lender) helps foot the bill if you stop paying back your mortgage.
Some mortgages require little to no money down
The federal government, states, banks and credit unions all offer programs with less daunting down payment requirements than the 20% figure, experts say. Some federal government-supported programs allow you to buy a house with no down payment, or a very low one.
FHA loans require as little as 3.5 percent, and VA loans and USDA loans have no down payment requirement at all. Most homeowners don't put 20 percent down. In 2022, the median down payment among homebuyers was 13 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
The fact that FHA home loans don't offer a “zero down” option does not mean there isn't some kind of down payment help for borrowers; there are state and local programs that may offer assistance to home buyers, first time home buyers, or home buyers who are in financial need.
For most, the answer is usually no. However, there are some cases where you can buy a home with no money down. Two ways to do it are through Veterans Affairs (VA) loans and USDA loans. These government-backed mortgages can be difficult to qualify for.
A down payment is a sum a buyer pays upfront when purchasing an expensive good such as a home or car. It represents a percentage of the total purchase price, and the balance is usually financed.
An FHA mortgage is usually the easiest home loan to get. You can qualify with a credit score as low as 580 (with a 3.5% down payment) or even 500 (with a 10% down payment).
Government-backed loan options, such as FHA, USDA and VA loans, are typically the easiest type of mortgage to get because they may have lower down payment and credit score requirements compared to conventional mortgage loans.
If you have poor credit, consider an FHA loan, which allows for credit scores as low as 580 (or 500 if you can make a 10 percent down payment on the home). If you're eligible, a VA loan (for service members and veterans) or a USDA loan (for buyers in rural areas) might also be easier to qualify for.
If you have an FHA loan, you'll be required to purchase a different type of mortgage insurance, known as a mortgage insurance premium (MIP). And, if you're using a private lender—like a mortgage lending company, relative or private home seller—your lender may not require PMI.
Enter Government-Backed Loan
Government-backed loans, such as Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans or Veterans Affairs (VA) loans often have lower down payment requirements and may not require PMI. However, these loans have their own eligibility criteria and may have other fees.
To afford a $400,000 house, borrowers need $55,600 in cash to put 10 percent down. With a 30-year mortgage, your monthly income should be at least $8200 and your monthly payments on existing debt should not exceed $981.
A conventional mortgage is not backed by the government, providing competitive interest rates and terms. To qualify for a no-money-down conventional mortgage, you'll typically need a credit score of at least 620 and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of no more than 43%.
To purchase a $200,000 house, you need a down payment of at least $40,000 (20% of the home price) to avoid PMI on a conventional mortgage. If you're a first-time home buyer, you could save a smaller down payment of $10,000–20,000 (5–10%). But remember, that will drive up your monthly payment with PMI fees.
A bigger loan: Putting down less upfront means borrowing more to make the purchase, which makes for higher monthly payments and more interest paid over time. Higher costs: Your mortgage interest rate and loan costs could be higher if you put down less upfront.
First, we'll give you a quick overview, then we'll drill down into each of these FHA loan requirements: Credit score: Minimum credit score of 580 (or 500 with a higher down payment) Down payment: 3.5 percent (or 10 percent with a credit score between 500 and 579)
The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).