Do You Really Need 20% Down to Buy a Home in Central PA or Harrisburg?

That old 20% down rule still floats around like a ghost at an open house—haunting buyers who think they need to wait forever to save that much.

Here’s the truth:
 Many conventional loans allow as little as 3–5% down
 Some programs even offer zero down payment

Most people hesitate because they want to avoid PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). Fair enough—PMI isn’t fun. But what if you could just… pay it off upfront?

 The Smart Buyer’s Trick: Pay Off PMI at Closing

Instead of shelling out monthly for PMI, you can pay it off in a lump sum at the start. Depending on your loan size and credit score, this could be:

• 0.3% to 2% of your loan amount upfront

• Example: On a $400,000 loan, that’s around $1,200 to $8,000

For many buyers in Central PA, that math actually makes the lower down payment smarter:

• You keep more cash for moving, repairs, or furniture

• You avoid monthly PMI

• You get in the house way sooner

 Live Where You Want—Sooner

Whether you're eyeing Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Etters, or anywhere in Central PA, don’t let outdated info keep you out of the market.

If you’ve been waiting for 20%, it might be time to stop waiting and start owning.

 Serving New Cumberland, Camp Hill, Etters, and all of Central PA.
Let’s run the real numbers together — not the rumors.