Can I buy a home with no money down?
For eligible buyers, yes: VA loans (veterans and service members) and USDA loans (eligible areas, income limits) both allow 0% down. Everyone else can get close — a 3%–3.5% loan plus Florida assistance can shrink out-of-pocket dramatically. Closing costs still need a plan.
For two groups of buyers, genuinely yes. For everyone else, the honest answer is "often surprisingly close." Here's the layout.
The two true zero-down paths
A VA loan allows 0% down for eligible veterans, service members, and certain surviving spouses — with no monthly mortgage insurance on top. A USDA loan allows 0% down for eligible addresses and household incomes, and the eligibility map reaches further into Central Florida's edges than "rural" sounds (program status verified August 2026). If either could apply to you, check it before assuming anything else.
Getting close to zero without them
Stack a low-down-payment loan — 3% conventional or 3.5% FHA — with Florida down payment assistance, which for eligible buyers adds help toward the down payment and closing costs through participating lenders (funding is limited and cyclical, so current availability is always the first check). Family gift funds can shrink the gap further. Between those tools, buyers regularly close with far less out of pocket than they'd feared.
The part people forget
Zero down doesn't mean zero cash. Closing costs still typically run 2%–5% of the price — seller credits and lender credits can offset them, but that's negotiated, not automatic — and you'll still want a cushion for the move and the first surprises. The goal isn't spending nothing; it's spending intentionally.
Bring me your situation — service history, the areas you're drawn to, what's saved so far — and in fifteen minutes we'll shortlist which zero-or-low path is realistic for you.
This answer is general education, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your situation is unique — let's talk through the specifics together.