Call or Text Kelly Vandever | 770.597.1108 | REALTOR® | License # 391485
Planning Ahead to Buy Your First House
Apr 14, 2026
How much money do you need to buy a house? I find that many first time home buyers are aware that they need a down payment to buy a house. But they aren't familiar with the other expenses of buying a house.
Here's a list that you'll need to plan for when buying a house and about how much it will cost in the state of Georgia:
1. Down Payment
The amount you need as a down payment can vary. There are first time homebuyer programs that allow you to put down as little at 3.5% or 5% of the sales price of the home.
For qualified veterans, the VA has a 0% down program.
Talk to your favorite real estate agent to get a list of their most trusted lenders who can help you find what program(s) you qualify for.
2. Earnest Money
Earnest money* is an amount that you provide when you go under contract when you get an offer accepted to purchase a property. That money will be applied to the down payment, but I like to let clients know that they will need to be able to ...
