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Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgages - Q & A
No Money Down

Q: Are there no-down payment home loans?

A: Though some real estate experts advise against it, home buyers interested in buying a house with nothing down can do so. Occasionally, a builder will offer no-down-payment loans to induce sales in an otherwise slow-moving project. Desperate sellers will also promise to finance the down payment to get out from under a property. A veteran can buy a house with nothing down through a VA home loan, as can members of some pension funds.

Q: What about nothing down?

A: Though some real estate experts advise against it, home buyers interested in buying a house with nothing down can do so. But it's not easy finding these loans and in some cases they can be risky. Occasionally, a builder will offer no-down loans to induce sales in an otherwise slow-moving project. Desperate sellers also may agree to finance the full purchase price to get out from under a property. The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, loan program is one program that allows buyers to qualify for a no-down loan.

Q: Is equity sharing a good idea?

A: Equity sharing is not as popular in a slowly appreciating real estate market as in a rapidly appreciating one (when equity investors are easy to find).

Nevertheless, a form of equity sharing called tenants-in-common partnerships is becoming more popular, particularly in high-priced markets. First-time buyers are the most interested in TIC arrangements because it gives them a way to buy property collectively with an unrelated partner.

Loan underwriting standards are more complicated in TIC deals because lenders have more than one party's financial situation to assess. But many standard loan programs do apply.