
How Much Down Payment Do You Need to Buy a House?
Most buyers don’t put 20% down, and the real minimum depends on your loan program. Here’s what FHA, conventional, VA, and USDA loans actually require,
Paul Messina is a US Army combat veteran, deployed to the Middle East, and a mortgage loan officer serving veterans and military families across the country. Before he helped veterans buy homes, he served alongside them. That service is still the throughline. Every career move since — real estate agent, now mortgage loan officer — has pointed in the same direction: getting the men and women who earned the VA benefit into the homes they fought for. Paul operates out of Great Falls, Montana, a short drive from Malmstrom Air Force Base, and works with clients nationwide. His practice is built on a specific conviction: the mortgage industry has a trust problem, and veterans deserve better than what the industry has been handing them. His job is to bring trust and transparency back to the transaction — plain math, straight answers, and a loan officer who picks up the phone. He is active in AIME, the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts, and serves as the 2026 Chairperson of the Technology and Innovation Committee — focused on making loan officers faster and more efficient so they can deliver the kind of white-glove service their friends and clients deserve. Paul is a graduate of Dustin Owen’s Originator Boot Camp and continues to train under Dustin at The Loan Officer Podcast. His move to Milestone reflects the standard he holds himself to: direct mentorship, transparent pricing, and a platform built for a national practice — not a local side hustle. If you served, if you’re stationed, or if you know someone who is — Paul is the call to make.
(406) 788-9843
pmessina@milestonemortgagesolutions.com
Traditional mortgages with competitive rates for borrowers with good credit. Down payments as low as 3%.
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Exclusive benefits for veterans, active military, and eligible spouses. Thank you for your service!
Zero down payment loans for eligible rural and suburban homebuyers. Great for first-time buyers!
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Financing for luxury properties and high-value homes that exceed conventional loan limits.
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Expert insights, tips, and news about mortgages and homeownership from Milestone Mortgage Solutions.

Most buyers don’t put 20% down, and the real minimum depends on your loan program. Here’s what FHA, conventional, VA, and USDA loans actually require,

Most buyers don’t put 20% down, and the real minimum depends on your loan program. Here’s what FHA,

If you’re stuck deciding between a broker, a bank, or just calling the first lender that comes up,

The honest answer is “it depends,” but not vaguely. Your loan type, your state, and how quickly documents

Worried about your first meeting with a mortgage loan officer? Here’s exactly what to bring, what they’ll ask, what you should ask them, and what you’ll walk away with — whether you’re ready to buy this month or just exploring.
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Mia Castillo2 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Allyson Pesta is by far the best lender I have had the pleasure to work with. As an insurance agent, it is very important for me to find business partners that hold the wellbeing of their clients at the utmost importance. She is fast and extremely responsive while also taking every moment she needs to explain the loan process, so borrowers know exactly what they are walking in to before the closing table. Allyson is a deeply committed lender who always manages to amaze me with her professionalism. She is the best in the biz!!Posted on Google![]()
Logan McColloch2 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Working with Parker was exceptional from start to finish. He made the whole process easy! Not only that, but he made the whole process easy to understand! Thank you Parker!!Posted on Google![]()
Samantha Florio10 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had the absolute best experience with our Loan Officer, Joey Wright. We are first time home buyers, and had a multitude of questions throughout the homebuying process. Joey was always available to answer anything we were questioning, give us different scenarios, and keep us updated on the next steps. We will be recommending him to everyone of our friends and family who are buying homes in the future!Posted on Google![]()
Alberto Gallardo11 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Gabriel is excellent at what he does. His expertise was a tremendous help in securing a DSCR loan and finding the best strategy. I recommend him 100%. Thank you so much, Gabriel!Posted on Google![]()
Jeff Fernandes15 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Joey helped us through the whole process and was well communicative! Will work with Joey again.Posted on Google![]()
Teresa Millan17 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
A 5-star rating is honestly an understatement! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As the REALTOR representing my buyer, I had the pleasure of working with Mi’guel DeVaughn, and he provided exceptional customer service from start to finish. His communication was excellent, he was incredibly fast and efficient, and absolutely no time was wasted throughout the process. Mi’guel was able to get my buyer clear to close, closed, and funded in just 15 days! That kind of efficiency and dedication made a huge difference and made the entire transaction so smooth for my buyer. I truly appreciate everything he did to help us get to the closing table so quickly. I would 100% recommend Mi’guel he was great to work with!Posted on Google![]()
MacKenzie campbell17 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Timothy and everyone at Milestone were such a pleasure to work with! They were efficient, communicative and committed! I couldn’t imagine going through the stress of a home buying process without Tim and his team! They were so helpful, answered any and all question’s and were always available whenever I needed guidance! Because of the team at milestone my husband and i were able to make our dreams come true of purchasing our first home!Posted on Google![]()
Marie Leonard18 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I had a wonderful experience working with Deanna Auger as my Loan Officer during my home-buying journey. She was professional, patient, knowledgeable, and always took the time to answer my questions and explain everything clearly. Buying a home can be stressful, but Deanna helped make the process much easier for me. She kept me informed throughout the entire process and made sure I understood what was happening every step of the way. I truly appreciate all of her hard work, support, and dedication in helping me become a homeowner. I would definitely recommend Deanna to anyone looking for a caring, reliable, and knowledgeable Loan Officer. Thank you so much, Deanna, for helping make this dream a reality! 🏡❤️Posted on Google![]()
Jessica Alfama19 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I’ll always be grateful that Steve was part of our journey to our first home. There were moments when I was nervous, had a million questions, or just needed reassurance, and Steve was always there with the same patience and positive energy. I have leaner so much from his expertise. What stayed with me most is that I never felt like this was just another loan for him. I truly felt that he wanted this for our family too. Steve, thank you for helping us get to a moment we’ll never forget. You will always be part of our first home story.Posted on Google![]()
micas gomes19 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Buying our first home was a big step for our family, and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience with Steve. From the beginning, he was always there to answer our questions, explain things, and help us through every step. What we really appreciated about Steve was that we never felt like just another client. He genuinely wanted everything to work out for us, and he was always positive, patient, and a joy to work with. Now that we have the keys, we’re just really grateful. Steve played a big part in helping our family get here, and we’ll always appreciate everything he did for us.