09/01/2026
The 20% down payment myth keeps good buyers renting for years longer than they need to.
Here's what actually decides whether you qualify:
→ Credit score — FHA starts at 580, conventional opens up around 620
→ Down payment — 3.5% FHA, 3% conventional, and some programs go to zero
→ Debt-to-income — under 45%, counting car, cards, and student loans
→ Steady income — two years, W-2 or self-employed, both work
Miss one?
There's usually still a loan for that. We're a Michigan lender with local underwriting, which means a real person looks at your file instead of a formula in another state.
Send us your four numbers and we'll tell you where you stand, in plain English. No credit pull to start.
+1 313-751-9769 | [email protected]
