Quote from Pabst:
Don't make the mistake of extrapolating lack of affordability from those statistics. Most first time buyers are purchasing lower end homes. Cheaper homes have decidedly less downside to lenders. Hence the no down payment. With the new BK law it's not as if a 60k a year wage earner is going to be able to "walk away" from a 25% hit on his 180k mortgage.
Often the mortgage payment or out of pocket cost (ex interest deduction) is less than their previous rent payment.
I would say that most 0% down mortgages are for 1st time buyers and are generally low end homes. I for one am in that boat. I only put down 3% 4 years ago and should walk away with enough when I sell out next year to put 20% down on different house. Granted I bought low for the area and have put a good deal of sweat equity into the house.
Had I been required to put down 20% from the get go I would most likely not be in the same position I am in now. I would still be living in an apartment renting and pissing my money away.
what gets people into trouble is when the put little or nothign down on a house that has them stretched to the max just to make a monthly note. If you don't take all the money that bank will give you you are in much better shape.