How Much Money Do You Really Need to Buy a House in Texas? One of the first questions I hear from homebuyers is: “How much money do I actually need to buy a house?” And one of the biggest misconceptions is that you need 20% down. You don't. In fact, depending on the loan program you qualify for, you may be able to buy a home with much less money out of pocket than you think. Let's break it down. You Don't Need 20% Down There are several mortgage options available to Texas hom