Guide to Buying Real Estate w/ No Money Down

"You’ve heard what appears to be a rumor: it’s possible to buy real estate with no money down. Well, you can’t stop holding your breath because the rumor is true. You really can buy real estate without putting down a penny but you should know what you’re doing before you get into it. There are pros and cons to purchasing your home this way. Be aware of what those pros and cons are so that you can buy real estate with no money down and no problems in the future.

Here is your guide to buying real estate with no money down:

• Borrowing money for a down payment is one of the most common methods of purchasing property with no money down. If you’re going to take this approach, you should make sure that you get a good loan with an interest rate that isn’t excessive. A line of credit or a home equity loan may be alternative options to a standard loan.

• Consider leasing until you buy. This is not a common real estate practice but it is something that can be done. The way it works is to lease the property with an option to buy during a set period of time. Negotiate a deal in which the money you’re putting towards the lease each month is considered the down payment on the purchase.

• Be firm in negotiations. It really is possible to just go in to the negotiation of the sale of your home intent on making "no down payment" a part of the plan. If you’re willing to concede to the seller on other points, you might be able to win out on this one. This is especially true if it’s a buyer’s market and the seller’s in a bind or if you’re willing to outbid others on the actual price of the property in order to negate the down payment.

• Know the legalities. There are certain no-money-down practices in real estate purchase that are common but are actually illegal. For example, sometimes the buyer will put down the down payment but then immediately get it back from the seller without disclosing the transaction. Appealing, but illegal.

• Realize that if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true. There are a lot of scams out there for convincing buyers to consider no payment down real estate purchases. There are very legitimate ways to do this but you need to do your research and not just jump on the first chance that passes you by. Look carefully at all of the real estate purchase terms and the reasons that the property might be offered with no down payment. In other words, go into the deal with open eyes and a sound mind.

• Consult a professional. Work with a real estate agent or get the advice of a real estate attorney so that you can be sure that the legalities are all covered and the deal is a good one."