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Business & Politics · 4 Beginner · September 18, 2026

Buying a Home with No Money Down

Buying a Home with No Money Down
Photo: Wikideas1 (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons

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Vocabulary

mortgage /ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ/ noun
money a bank gives you to buy a home
I got a mortgage from the bank to buy my house.
deposit /dɪˈpɒzɪt/ noun
money you save and give to the bank before borrowing more
I saved ten thousand dollars for my deposit.
interest /ˈɪntərəst/ noun
extra money you pay when you borrow from a bank
The bank charges interest on my loan.
risk /rɪsk/ noun
the chance that something bad will happen
There is a risk that home prices will go down.
emergency /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/ noun
a sudden bad situation that needs help right away
I keep money saved for emergencies.
manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ verb
to handle or control something difficult
I manage my money by making a budget.

Article

Many people in the UK want to buy their first home. But homes cost a lot of money. Some people do not have enough money to save. They use a special loan called a mortgage. Now more people are buying homes with very little money saved.

What is a 100% Mortgage?

A mortgage is money a bank gives you to buy a home. You pay it back slowly each month. Usually, people save money first. They give this money to the bank. This is called a deposit. A 100% mortgage means the bank gives you all the money. You do not need to save any money first.

Is This a Good Idea?

A 100% mortgage helps people buy homes faster. But it has risks. If the home costs less money later, you owe more than it is worth. You also pay more in total because you pay interest. Interest is extra money you pay to the bank.

How Do People Manage?

People with 100% mortgages work hard to pay their bills each month. They spend less money on other things. Some people get help from family. They save extra money for emergencies. This helps them feel safer.

Why Now?

More people are using 100% mortgages now than before. Life is expensive. Homes cost more money. People cannot save enough money before they buy. Banks are helping more people with no deposit money. This is the highest number since 2008.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you want to buy a home? Why or why not?
  2. What is one good thing about a 100% mortgage?
  3. What is one bad thing about a 100% mortgage?
  4. How much money do you think people should save before buying a home?
  5. If you had a 100% mortgage, how would you manage your money each month?

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