FHA loans: Consider saving money for a down payment. With an FHA loan you can put down as little as 3.5% of the purchase price, instead of the standard 20%.
Income property: Consider buying a property that has a rental such as an ADU or a duplex. The rent you collect might allow you to qualify for more financing and make your mortgage more doable.
CalHafa: Don’t have a down payment? No Problem! CalHafa loans offer down payment assistance.
Mom/Dad: If your parents are looking for an investment, convince them or another family member to provide down payment assistance, or co-purchase with you. If they don’t have savings they can also consider borrowing on their existing home via an equity loan.
Co-purchase with a friend: This can be especially helpful when you buy a duplex.
Can’t afford Los Angeles? Consider buying a second home first, even if you rent your first home you still can buy a vacation home. Some great options are areas like Palm Springs, Joshua Tree or Big Bear.
VA loan: This loan helps Service members, Veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners with no down-payment or mortgage insurance.
Side gigs: I took side gigs to save money. Working a day job while going to school and made extra money selling things I found at thrift shops on eBay.
Family a/k/a Roommates: My mom and brother were renting so to help out, rather than me moving in with them, I had them move in and pay rent to offset the mortgage
Savings: I got a cookie jar and rewarded myself when I cleaned the house or dyed my own hair. Every week I did something to save money and I would put the savings in the cookie jar. That extra money really helped towards the maintenance of the house.