3 First-Time Buyer Objections … and How to Respond

May 22
1 min read

Updated: May 26

Spark, July 2026. First-Time Buyer Series: Part 3.

If you talk to a typical renter today about buying a home, you’ll probably hear a lot of reasons why it’s not possible.

For most renters, buying a home simply feels out of reach … and those feelings are valid. After all, first-time buyers (FTBs) have faced real affordability barriers in recent years. Yet those barriers have perpetuated an “all or nothing” mindset that can keep people from even trying.

As their agent, you're often the first person a hesitant buyer opens up to — which puts you in the best position to help them separate perception from reality. Here are three common FTB objections you may encounter and scripts that will help you move the conversation forward.

1. “I can’t save enough for a down payment.”
That’s a valid concern and one I hear from a lot of my clients. Let’s start by estimating how much of a down payment you’d need.
The good news is, you don’t need 20%. First-time buyers can usually put 3% down … or even zero, depending on your loan program.
Since you’re looking at homes in the $400,000 range, a 3% down payment would be $12,000. And you’re right: that could take years to save.
But many buyers don’t rely on savings alone. They often use a mix of strategies, like down payment assistance programs, gift money from family, retirement funds, or shopping at a lower price point.
Before you rule out buying a home, I can connect you with a mortgage lender to talk about your options. They help people with these questions every day, so it’s worth a conversation.

2. "Home prices are too high — I’ll never afford anything.”
I hear that — sticker shock is real. But instead of focusing on the purchase price, focus on what you can actually afford monthly. How much can you comfortably afford to spend on your mortgage, utilities, and home maintenance costs?
From there, you can pull different “levers” to bring the cost in line with your budget, such as asking the seller to buy down your interest rate or increasing your down payment. You could also talk to a lender about a hybrid ARM loan, which may offer a lower monthly payment for the first few years.
And if the numbers still don't work right now, that doesn’t mean they never will. We can figure out what you’d need to get there and build a plan toward that.

3. “I have too much debt and bad credit. I won’t qualify for a loan.”
Here’s a surprising fact: Most homebuyers overestimate what it takes to qualify for a loan.
If you had to guess, what credit score do you think you’d need to get a mortgage? Most renters assume 700 or higher. But that’s not actually true. A lot of people can qualify with a score in the mid-600s… it just depends on your loan type and other factors.
And having debt doesn’t automatically disqualify you either. It’s about the ratio of debt compared to your income, not the dollar amount.
If you still have concerns, though, why don’t I connect you with a loan officer who can look at your specific situation? You may be surprised by what’s possible.

These are some of the most common objections you'll hear from first-time buyers — but not the only ones. Whatever comes up, the approach remains the same: Validate the concern, identify the misperception, and reframe with facts.

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3 First-Time Buyer Objections … and How to Respond

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