text: can one really buy a home with no money down and poor credit?   yes! i personally have purchased 2 houses and a 3 unit apartment house this way. i put a grand total of 12 dollars down payment ( in mi, a real estate contract isn't valid unless some money changes hands) i flipped 2 of them and kept the 3 unit for a couple of years, then sold it too. my credit score is around 525 but i never went through any credit checks with the owners. it does take a lot of persistence and determination though.