10/07/2026
Two Moves That Can Get You Into Your First Home Sooner
For a lot of first-time buyers, owning a home can feel perpetually a few years out of reach. Saving for a down payment takes time, and each year you spend renting can make owning feel further off.
But buying your first home doesn’t have to happen to feel like a far away goal. Two choices you control can bring your first home years closer, even with affordability as tight as it is right now.
A starter home usually means a home in the lower third of local prices. They’re often condos, townhomes, or single-family homes a little smaller or older than others in the area.
Choosing one over a mid-priced home can cut your wait down by a lot. And while that might sound obvious, you may not realize just how much it shortens your timeline. Because if you’re buying a more affordable home, you don’t have to save up as much or as long.
Some buyers put down as little as 3% on a conventional loan or 3.5% on an FHA loan, and eligible veterans or buyers in certain rural areas can put down nothing at all.
There’s help with the upfront costs of buying, too. Down Payment Resourcecounts 2,746 assistance programs nationwide, and some are even stackable.