If you’ve been holding off on buying a house because of closing costs, I need you to hear this.

You might not need to pay them at all.

If you’d rather watch or listen to the full breakdown, here’s the video.

Let me walk you through what’s actually going on and why so many veterans are getting this wrong.

Why So Many Veterans Don’t Buy

One of the biggest reasons veterans don’t use their VA loan benefit isn’t the monthly payment.

It’s the upfront cost.

Closing costs feel like this giant, confusing number that shows up out of nowhere and makes people think:

“I guess I can’t afford to buy yet.”

And I get it.

Depending on where you’re buying, closing costs can be a lot.

In some states, they’re shockingly high.

What Closing Costs Actually Are

Closing costs are all the fees tied to buying a home.

Things like:

• lender fees
• credit report fees
• title and escrow (or attorney fees, depending on the state)
• appraisal and inspection
• recording fees
• transfer taxes (in certain states)

And those numbers can add up fast.

For example, on a $500,000 home in a state like New York, it wouldn’t be unusual to see around $15,000 in closing costs—even without lender fees.

So yeah… It’s a real number.

And it’s enough to stop a lot of people before they even start.

Here’s What Most People Don’t Realize

You can ask the seller to pay your closing costs.

I’m going to say that again because this is the part most people miss:

You can ask the seller to pay your closing costs.

Especially right now, in many parts of the country, we’re in a buyer’s market.

That means sellers are more willing to negotiate.

And covering closing costs is one of the most common ways they do that.

Why No One Told You This

If your agent or lender hasn’t brought this up, there are really only a couple of explanations:

They don’t know…
Or they’re not experienced enough to guide you properly.

And I know that sounds blunt, but it’s true.

A lot of agents and loan officers:

• don’t do enough deals
• don’t fully understand VA loans
• or just don’t think to structure offers this way

So you end up thinking you need $10K–$15K saved…

When in reality, you may not.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

When we’re working with clients, this is part of the strategy from the beginning.

We’re not just looking at:
“Can you qualify?”

We’re asking:
“How do we get you into this home with the least out-of-pocket cost?”

And a lot of the time, that includes:

• negotiating seller-paid closing costs
• structuring offers to include them
• working with agents who know how to make that happen

Because the goal isn’t just to get you approved.

The goal is to get you the keys.

But What If the Seller Says No?

Then they say no.

That’s it.

That’s the worst-case scenario.

But here’s the reality I’m seeing right now:

We’re getting more yeses than nos.

So if you never ask, you’re potentially walking away from an opportunity that could have made homeownership possible sooner.

What You Should Do Instead

Here’s the smarter approach:

Get fully underwritten and pre-approved first.
Work with a lender who actually understands VA loans.
Start shopping with a strategy, not just a budget.

And while you’re shopping, sure, save money for closing costs just in case.

But don’t let the assumption that you have to pay them stop you from moving forward.

Because you might not.

The Bottom Line

If closing costs are the thing holding you back, don’t let that be the reason you miss out.

You have more options than you think.

And sometimes, the difference between renting and owning isn’t income…

It’s just knowing what to ask for.

If you want to walk through your specific situation or figure out what this could look like for you, that’s exactly what we’re here for. No pressure—just real answers so you can make the best decision for you.

📞 Call or Text Me: (786) 933-2077
🏡 Get Pre-Approved: https://www.zerostressmortgage.com
📅 Set Up a Time to Chat: https://calendly.com/jennifer-beeston