Buying a Home, is it the right time?

Brantley Wheeler
Mar 18
2 min read

Updated: Apr 3

Many people believe they need to save 20% for a down payment before buying a home. This outdated advice, often repeated by talk show hosts and financial gurus, can cause aspiring homeowners to delay purchasing for years—missing out on valuable equity growth in the process. The reality is, you don’t need 20%, 15%, or even 10% down to buy a home. In fact, waiting until you save that much could put you at a major financial disadvantage.

**Why Homeownership is a Risk Worth Taking**

Homeownership is one of the most effective ways to build wealth over time. Historically, real estate appreciates at an average rate of 4-6% per year. Unlike renting—where 100% of your payment goes to your landlord—owning a home means a portion of your monthly mortgage payment is applied toward your loan’s principal. This means you’re paying down your house while it increases in value, effectively growing your wealth in two ways.

The Advantage of Buying Young

The average first-time homebuyer in Florida is 38 years old, often because they’ve been led to believe they need a large down payment. But what if you could buy much earlier—with 0%, 3.5%, or 5% down? Getting into a home in your early 20s allows you to build equity for nearly two decades before reaching the average first-time buyer age. By then, you could be selling your home for a six-figure payout—to someone who waited until 38 and has been renting, building no equity.

How Buying Early Puts You Ahead

You start building equity sooner, creating long-term financial security.
Your home appreciates over time, increasing your net worth.
Instead of throwing money away on rent, you’re paying down your own mortgage.
You set yourself up for financial freedom earlier, potentially paying off your mortgage long before retirement.

Explore Your Options Now

You don’t need to wait for a 20% down payment. With 0% down financing options, 3.5% FHA loans, and low 5% conventional loans, you can buy a home now—not decades later. The sooner you get into a home, the sooner you’ll start growing your wealth and setting yourself up for financial success.