You Don’t Need These Things to Buy a Home — Common Myths That Might Be Holding You Back

If you’ve been dreaming of owning a home in beautiful Southern Coastal Georgia, whether tucked away in charming St. Marys, near the marshes of Kingsland, or close to Kings Bay, but haven’t taken the first step because you think you're not "ready"… this is for you.

Many potential buyers put off exploring homeownership because they assume they need to meet certain strict criteria. But the truth is, you might be closer to buying a home than you think. Let’s bust some common myths about what you don’t need to buy a home, especially right here in Camden County and surrounding areas.

You Don’t Need a 20% Down Payment

One of the biggest myths out there is that you must have 20% down to buy a home. While putting down 20% can help you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), it is not required.

Here in Georgia, many buyers qualify for:

• FHA Loans with as little as 3.5% down

• VA Loans for eligible service members and veterans with zero down

• USDA Loans for homes in rural areas (much of Camden County qualifies!) — also zero down

• Conventional loans with down payments as low as 3%

We regularly work with buyers who bring less than $10,000 to closing. If you’ve been waiting to save tens of thousands of dollars — you may not have to!

You Don’t Need Perfect Credit

Yes, credit matters. But perfect credit? That’s not the standard.

• FHA loans often allow credit scores as low as 580

• VA and USDA loans have flexible credit requirements

• Conventional loans typically require scores starting in the mid-600s

Your local lender can help you review your credit situation and offer practical advice, including quick steps that can bump up your score if needed. The important thing is to start the conversation.

You Don’t Need to Do It Alone

Buying a home is a big step, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. In fact, you shouldn’t.

Our local team at Coastal Roots Realty is here to:

• Connect you with trusted local lenders who understand programs specific to Coastal Georgia

• Help you find properties that meet your goals and budget

• Walk you through every step of the offer, inspection, appraisal, and closing process

You’ll also have the support of your lender, closing attorney, and inspectors, all part of your home-buying team.

You Don’t Need to

You can still buy a home even if you have:

• Student loans

• Car payments

• Credit cards

What matters most is your debt-to-income ratio, not whether you have any debt at all. A lender can help calculate what monthly mortgage payment fits your financial situation.

You Don’t Need to Know Everything

It’s okay not to have it all figured out before reaching out. We talk to people every day who start the conversation by saying, “I’m not sure if I’m ready…” — and many of them are pleasantly surprised by what’s possible.

Even if you're not quite ready now, getting clear answers early helps you put a plan in place. It’s never too soon to ask questions.

The Bottom Line: You Might Be Closer Than You Think

There are so many paths to homeownership, and many of them are more accessible than you’ve been led to believe. Especially here in Southern Coastal Georgia, where we have access to a wide range of loan programs and affordable properties, homeownership could be within reach sooner than you expected.