Buying a house

Put as little as 3% down on your fixed-rate mortgage

Becoming a homeowner may take less cash than you think, with down payments as low as 3%

Get started

Homebuying, simplified

Step 1

Find out how much you could borrow

Get a mortgage quote >

Step 2

Get preapproved for a mortgage

Start your approvals >

Step 3

Search homes in your price range

See homes for sale >

Step 4

Start the application process

Apply now >

Get help with your down payment and closing costs

See how we can help make homebuying more affordable.

Tools and resources

Calculate your price range

Affordability calculator >

Learn how to buy your first home

First time homebuyers >

Compare mortgage options

Home loan types >

Common homebuying questions

A down payment is the portion of your home’s purchase price that you pay in cash up front to get your loan. Many people believe you need a 20% down payment to buy a home, but there are many mortgage options that allow you to put down less. In fact, Wells Fargo has a 3% down payment option on a fixed-rate loan and low or no down payment for qualified borrowers.

With a low down payment, mortgage insurance will be required, which increases the cost of the loan and will increase the monthly payment.

Talk with a home mortgage consultant about loan amount, loan type, property type, income, first-time homebuyer, and homebuyer education requirements to discuss eligibility.

Check out our first-time homebuyer resources for more information or contact one of our home mortgage consultants to help find the mortgage solution that works best for your needs.

Choosing when to buy a home is a very personal decision that will depend on many factors. A home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime, so preparation is key.

The following questions can help you determine if you’re ready to make the leap:

  • Do you have a stable source of income?
  • Are you budgeting for your monthly bills?
  • Do you know how much you can afford for monthly mortgage payment?
  • Once purchased, how long do you plan to stay in your home?

Once the offer you make on a property is accepted, one of the first steps you’ll want to take is scheduling a home inspection with a professional home inspector. This inspection is usually at your expense and may be included in your closing costs.

A home inspector looks at aspects of a property – inside and out – and completes a report that reveals valuable information about its condition. It’ll help you spot issues that need to be fixed such as worn-out roofing or heating and air conditioning systems that may require replacement. Once the inspection is completed, your home inspector will provide a detailed inspection report, usually a day or two after the inspection.

Based on the inspection report, you can decide to negotiate repairs into the sales contract and ask the seller to make them or adjust the sales price to compensate the repair costs. As a condition of the sale, your lender may require a final inspection to ensure that repairs have been made. For more information, connect with your home mortgage consultant.

Mortgage prequalification is a simple process that uses your income, debt, and credit information to let you know how much you may be able to borrow. Getting prequalified before you shop for homes can help you:

  • Focus your search — Establishing  your price range up front means you can target the right homes in your search.
  • Move forward confidently — When it's time to make an offer, you'll have the confidence of knowing you can back it up.
  • Know your options — Seeing the loan amount, interest rate, and monthly payment you could qualify for means you'll be able to make the mortgage decision that works best for you. 

Explore the mortgage learning center

Tips and homebuyer education to help you make smart decisions at every step of the journey.

Talk to a mortgage consultant

Call us

1-866-383-5345

Mon – Fri: 7 am – 8 pm
Sat: 8 am – 6 pm
Central Time

Marque 9 para recibir atención en español.

Let us contact you

Enter your contact information to have a mortgage consultant call you.

Get a call back

Find a consultant

Use our locator to search for mortgage consultants in your area.

Search locations

Powered by ComeHome.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

QSR-08032026-7599569.1.1

LRC-1024