News flash: Zillow just launched 0% down. Plot twist — this is nothing new. 0% down has been my specialty for over a decade. But here’s the catch nobody’s talking about. Watch the 60-second version on Instagram →
What Zillow actually announced
Zillow Home Loans now offers a second loan covering the full FHA minimum down payment — up to 3.5% of the purchase price — with 0% interest and no monthly payment, in 43 states and Washington, D.C. (it’s not available in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont or Virginia). You need a 640 minimum credit score and you still have to qualify for the full monthly payment under standard underwriting — there’s no income cap and no first-time-buyer requirement (Inman, Oct. 28, 2026).
That’s a real benefit for a lot of buyers. It’s also, functionally, the same idea DFW Mortgage Pros has been running for years: pair the main loan with a second loan or grant that covers what you’d otherwise bring in cash.
The catch: it’s a loan, not a gift
Here’s the part that matters more than the headline. Zillow’s second loan is forgiven only after five years of owner-occupancy and on-time payments on the primary mortgage. If you sell, refinance, or move out before year five, the full amount comes due immediately (Inman, Oct. 28, 2026).
For most first-time buyers that’s fine — plenty of people stay put for five years anyway. But if your plan includes an early refinance once rates drop, a job relocation, or just not knowing yet how long you’ll stay, that clawback is real money you need to plan around, not a footnote.
There’s more than one way to do 0% down — the right one depends on your plan
- Zillow’s path: one structure, one five-year clock, forgiven or repaid in full — no in-between.
- Our down payment assistance: up to 5% of the purchase price, and you pick the structure that fits your plan going in — a 5-year forgivable grant, a 30-year repayable second loan, or closing-cost assistance. No first-time-buyer requirement, no income cap, co-borrowers and gift funds welcome.
- Our 0% down + up to $70,000 renovation program: rolls the purchase and the fix-up into one loan, one closing, with the appraisal based on the home’s value after the work. Built for the homes that actually fit a first-time budget in DFW — the ones that need a kitchen and some carpet, not a move-in-ready showroom.
The common thread: knowing how long you actually plan to stay changes which 0% down option is the right one — and that’s exactly the conversation we have before you pick a program, not after.
🎯 The Néstor Caussade Team can help
If you’re comparing Zillow’s new program against what’s available locally — or you just want someone to run the real numbers before you commit to anything — that conversation is free. DFW Mortgage Pros — The Néstor Caussade Team has been closing 0% down deals in Dallas–Fort Worth for thirteen years, in English, Spanish and ASL, and we’ll tell you plainly which structure fits your plan, forgivable, repayable, or renovation-combo.
Bottom line
- Zillow Home Loans now covers the FHA down payment (up to 3.5%) at 0% interest in 43 states + D.C., 640 minimum credit, no income cap
- The money is forgiven after 5 years of owner-occupancy — but comes due in full if you sell, refinance or move out before then
- Our DPA goes up to 5% and lets you choose forgivable, repayable, or closing-cost structures based on your actual plan
- Our 0% down + up to $70K renovation program combines the purchase and the fix-up in one loan — no first-time-buyer requirement
Send this to a friend who’s renting and thinks they need a big down payment. See what you qualify for in 2 minutes — no credit pull — or text me ZERO at 817-697-4281 and we’ll map out your options side by side. Hablo español.
Rates and programs shown are examples, change without notice and are not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval. NMLS #1538512 · NXT Mortgage, a division of NEXA Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #1660690. Equal Housing Opportunity.
