I’m going to tell you a secret that might surprise you: You do not need perfect credit to buy a home.

I never want you to buy a home that you can't afford today. The most important rule of "Dating the Rate" is ensuring that the current monthly payment fits your lifestyle right now.

Don't buy a house with a payment that makes you "house poor" (where you can't afford groceries or a movie) just because you hope rates will go down later.

One of the most frequent questions people ask me (and search for online) is: "Do I need 20% down to buy a house?" The answer, in 2026, is a resounding NO. In fact, waiting until you have 20% saved could be one of the most expensive financial mistakes you ever make.