Buy a home in Columbus with little money downCompra casa en Columbus con poco enganche

What's the real minimum to buy?¿Cuál es el mínimo real para comprar?

Forget the old rule about needing 20% down. For most buyers in Columbus, the real out-of-pocket number is a small fraction of the purchase price, and on some loans it can be close to zero. With homes available from the $200Ks, a low-down-payment loan can put your starting cash within reach much sooner than you expected.

Your true minimum is the down payment plus closing costs (lender, title, and escrow fees, usually a few percent of the price), minus any assistance you qualify for. The good news: programs exist specifically to help cover both pieces. Many buyers we work with combine a low-down loan with down payment assistance and walk in with very little of their own cash.

Low- and no-down loan typesPréstamos de poco o ningún enganche

These are the loan programs we most often help Columbus buyers explore. Each has its own rules, and approval is always subject to lender approval and eligibility, but together they show just how many paths there are:

• FHA loans, as little as 3.5% down with flexible credit, a popular fit for first-time buyers
• OHFA (Ohio Housing Finance Agency), first-time-buyer loans that pair with down payment and closing-cost help
• VA and USDA loans, 0%-down options for those who qualify (eligible veterans and certain areas)
• Conventional 3%-down loans, a low-down route for buyers with stronger credit
• ITIN loans, for buyers who file taxes with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number

Assistance programs and credit basicsProgramas de ayuda y conceptos de crédito

Down payment assistance can come as a grant or a second loan that helps cover your down payment and closing costs. Programs like OHFA's assistance options are designed exactly for buyers who have steady income but haven't saved a big lump sum. Amounts and eligibility vary, so we'll help you see what you may qualify for, see our full down payment assistance page for details.

Credit matters, but probably less than you fear. Many first-time-buyer loans allow lower scores than people expect. What lenders look for is a pattern: on-time payments, manageable debt, and steady income. If your credit isn't quite ready, that's normal, we'll connect you with trusted bilingual lenders who can give you a clear, free plan to get there. Note that Byron's team does not originate loans; we guide you and connect you with lenders who do.

Your step-by-step pathTu camino paso a paso

Buying with little money down is mostly about doing things in the right order. Here's the path we walk every buyer through:

1. Free consultation. We learn your goals, income, and timeline, no pressure, in your language.Consulta gratis. Conocemos tus metas, ingresos y tiempos, sin presión, en tu idioma.
2. Get pre-approved. A bilingual lender reviews your numbers and matches you to the best low-down program.Pre-aprobación. Un prestamista bilingüe revisa tus números y te asigna el mejor programa de poco enganche.
3. Layer in assistance. We check which down payment and closing-cost programs you may qualify for.Suma la ayuda. Revisamos a qué programas de enganche y costos de cierre podrías calificar.
4. Tour and offer. We show you homes that fit your budget and negotiate hard on your behalf.Visita y oferta. Te mostramos casas dentro de tu presupuesto y negociamos por ti.
5. Close and get your keys. We guide you through every signature to the day the home is yours.Cierra y recibe las llaves. Te guiamos en cada firma hasta el día en que la casa es tuya.

Ready when you areListos cuando tú lo estés

With 634 homes sold and a 5.0-star rating, our bilingual team has helped hundreds of newcomers, first-time buyers, and investors across Columbus get started with less cash than they thought possible. The best first step costs nothing: a quick conversation about your situation.

Call or text us at (614) 446-9616, or learn how we help first-time home buyers get started. Whenever you're ready, we're ready to map it out with you.