I haven't read this thread but here are my tips. many of you may not know this.

banks sell interest points. I rather much do this than do a down payment. let's say you get approved for a 6%; and let's say that bank sells each point for $3000. That means that with $9000 cash, you can bring your permanent interest rate to 3%.

I would also look for houses under foreclosure (much cheaper)

and....

when making the payments, call the bank and set up to where you make half the payment every 2 weeks. If your mortgage is $800 a month, you would pay $400 every 2 weeks. By doing this, you are killing the interest rate. Interest rate can only be charged once a month so the interest will only be charged on one payment. The other payment, the complete $400 go straight to the capital. My parents do this. The bank doesn't tell anyone because they lose money. The bank told them after setting it up, that he had just cut the 25 years he had left to something alone the lines of 18 or 17 simply because more money is going to the capital versus interest.


YES YES and YES this is all 100% true and verified.

Sorry for any typos. I'm in a hurry