First Time Home Buyer Myths Busted — What You Really Need to Buy in Texas 2026

Written by Vanessa Bradford | REALTOR® | Hill Country Queen | 19 Years Texas Hill Country Experience | 210-707-9029 | vanessa@vhbhomes.com

You are not going to get everything on your wish list. I am going to be honest with you right now. But you are going to get everything on your must have list. And that is how we win.

Watch the full myth busting video here: First Time Home Buyer Myths Busted — What You Really Need to Buy in Texas 2026

Myth number one — you need a huge down payment. You do not. VA loan — zero money down if you qualify. FHA loan — 3.5 percent down. Conventional — 20 percent down which helps you avoid mortgage insurance but is absolutely not required for your first home.

Myth number two — you do not need to get preapproved first. Wrong. Get preapproved before you look at a single home. I am not going to show you an Aston Martin when you can really only afford a Toyota. Get preapproved so we know your actual monthly budget including taxes and insurance.

Here is what it actually costs to buy a home. Three things. Earnest money — anywhere from $850 to $3,000. Down payment — depends on your loan type. Closing costs — think of it like tax, title, and license when you buy a car.

Here is how we negotiate like a pro. We do not always ask for the price to come down. Sometimes closing cost assistance is worth more. Sometimes we ask the seller to buy down your interest rate. We use comps to make an offer that wins.

Inspections are not optional. Every single one of my clients gets a home inspection. These homes are built by humans. Humans make mistakes. We catch them before you close.

Final walkthrough. Then you sign. Then you get your keys. Then you stop paying someone else's mortgage and start building your own wealth.

210-707-9029 | vanessa@vhbhomes.com | https://www.google.com/url?q=http://vhbhomes.com&source=gmail&ust=1781549295060000&sa=E

FAQ

Do I need 20 percent down to buy my first home in Texas? No. VA loans offer zero down for qualifying military buyers. FHA loans require just 3.5 percent down. Conventional loans with 20 percent down help you avoid mortgage insurance but are not required.

Why do I need to get preapproved before looking at homes? Preapproval tells you exactly what you can afford monthly including taxes and insurance. Without preapproval you are wasting your time and potentially falling in love with homes you cannot buy.

What is earnest money in Texas real estate? Earnest money is a good faith deposit you put down when making an offer. In Texas it typically ranges from $850 to several thousand dollars and is applied toward your closing costs or down payment at closing.

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Vanessa Bradford is a REALTOR® with Real Broker LLC specializing in luxury homes, acreage, and new construction in New Braunfels and the Texas Hill Country. License 811394. Equal Housing Opportunity.