Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers | 2026 Financial Prep Series - Part 4 – 518

Nearly 80% of FHA buyers qualify for down payment assistance, yet under 17% actually use it. This episode shows first-time homebuyers how to slash big expenses, explore DPA programs, and rethink what they truly need to save.

You'll learn why cutting large expenses beats skipping lattes, how self-employed and 1099 buyers can qualify with the right lending team, and why over 2,700 down payment assistance programs go unused every year. David breaks down the myths keeping first-time homebuyers from free money and shares real interview examples of buyers who closed for under $5,000 total.

"Most buyers eliminate themselves before they ever talk to a professional."

Highlights

Can self-employed or 1099 workers actually get approved for a home loan?Is down payment assistance really only for low-income buyers?Do you have to be a first-time buyer to qualify for DPA programs?Do you really need $35K, $50K, or $100K saved to buy a home?

Referenced Episodes

447 – First-Time Homebuyer Tax Strategy to Qualify for a Better Mortgage (Interview w/ Dan Mullens, CPA)227 – Using The Internet To Research Your First Home426 – Lowering Your Down Payment – Financially Prepare to Buy Your First Home – Pt. 7460 – Rent vs Buy in 2026: Are First Time Homebuyers Crazy?440 – First Time Homebuyer Playbook (Part 1): Rent Replacement Strategy340 – Down Payment Assistance, Discovery Calls & Lending Myths (INTERVIEW)441 – First Time Homebuyer Playbook (Part 2): The Last Lease Ever421 – Down Payment Strategy in 2025: Assistance, Savings, and Family Support424 – First Time Home Buyers: Chloe & Eduardo Close on a Home (INTERVIEW)425 – First Time Home Buyer: How a Single Mom Bought with a ZERO Down Payment USDA Loan (INTERVIEW)399 – The Real Value of Buying: What Nick Gained Beyond a Mortgage378 – INTERVIEW: How Bhavik & Suhani Bought in a High-Cost Market

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