A Utah County first-time buyer family thought 20% down was required. After reviewing low-down-payment programs (3% conventional, 3.5% FHA, and down-payment assistance options), they purchased successfully — preserved emergency savings, locked a comfortable monthly payment, and established a long-term homeownership plan.
The situation
A Utah County family had been saving for years toward what they believed was a required 20% down payment. Every month felt like falling further behind as home prices climbed faster than savings grew.
The strategy
A full pre-approval revealed multiple low-down-payment programs the family qualified for, including conventional 3% down and FHA 3.5% down. We modeled each side-by-side — total monthly payment, mortgage insurance, cash-to-close — and chose the structure that fit the family's budget and goals.
The result
- Successful home purchase in their target Utah County neighborhood.
- Emergency savings preserved — the cushion stayed intact.
- Comfortable monthly payment within the family's budget.
- Long-term homeownership plan established for future refinance and equity goals.
Story based on a real Utah client file. Identifying details abbreviated to protect privacy. Individual results vary and are not a guarantee of future loan performance.