Tuesday, November 11, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
If you’ve served in the military (or if your spouse has), you have access to one of the most powerful homebuying tools out there. The chance to buy a home without having a down payment.
Unfortunately, 70% of Veterans (that's 7 out of every 10) don’t know about this benefit, according to Veterans United.
And that’s a big missed opportunity for those who’ve earned this benefit through service. So, let’s break down what you really need to know about Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans right now.
Why VA Home Loans Can Be a Great Option
For nearly 80 years, VA loans have made homeownership possible for millions of Veterans and active-duty service members. Here are just a few of the top perks according to the Department of Veteran Affairs:
Options for $0 Down Payment: Many Veterans can buy a home without spending years saving up.
Fewer Upfront Costs: The VA limits which types of closi ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, homeownership, home buying, downpayments, veterans loan
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Here’s why the right answer is so important for you to know. A lot people overestimate how much they really need to save for a down payment. The most common answers? 10 or 20%. The truth: you may be able to put down as little as 3%. According to FirstHomeIQ, only 8 out of 100 people actually get this right. Don’t let misinformation hold you back. What did you guess? Drop a comment below. And if you want more information, talk to a trusted lender. #DownPayment #FirstTimeHombuyer #KeepingCurrentMatters ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, downpayments
Monday, August 4, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in.
“I’ll never save enough.”
“I need a small fortune just to get started.”
“I guess I’ll just rent forever.”
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not out of luck.
Here’s the thing: a lot of what you’ve heard about down payments just isn’t true. And once you know the facts, you might realize you’re a lot closer to owning a home than you think.
Let’s break it all down and bust some big down payment myths while we’re at it.
Myth 1: “I need to come up with a big down payment.”
This one stops a lot of people in their tracks. A recent poll from Morning Consult and NeighborWorks shows 70% of Americans think they need to put at least 10% down to buy a home. And 11% aren’t sure what’s ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, first-time home buyers, downpayments
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
A lot of buyers are pressing pause on their plans these days, holding out hope that mortgage rates will come down – maybe even back to the historic-low 3% from a few years ago. But here’s the thing: those rates were never meant to last. They were a short-term response to a very specific moment in time. And as the market finds its footing again, it’s time to reset expectations.
Back in 2020 and 2021, 3% mortgage rates gave buyers a serious boost: more affordability, more buying power, and more opportunity. But those rates were a result of emergency economic policies during the height of a global pandemic. Now that the economy is in a different place, we’re seeing mortgage rates in the high 6% to low 7% range.
And while experts currently project a slight easing in the months ahead, most industry leaders agree: rates are not going back to 3%.
Instead, many forecasts suggest mortgage rates will settle in the mid-6% range by the end of ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, real estate agents, home buying, downpayments
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
When buying a home, you’re probably thinking about mortgage rates, home prices, your down payment, and maybe even your closing costs. But you may not be thinking about homeowners association (HOA) fees. While you won’t necessarily have these, you should know it’s a possibility, depending on where you decide to live.
A homeowners association is basically an organization that oversees a housing community (including shared spaces) and sets and enforces rules for things like upkeep. Some buyers love the perks that come with an HOA, others may see the fees as an extra expense. The key is knowing what they cover and whether the benefits outweigh the costs for you.
The Benefits of Having an HOA
Think about this. If you’ve fallen in love with a home because of how beautiful the community is – maybe it’s the landscaping, the well-maintained streets, or the overall curb appeal – there’s a good chance the HOA is one of the reasons why it ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home owners, downpayments
