IMO the best way to buy real estate is to find a seller willing to acept a rent-to-buy contract, you make a rent contract with the option to buy it, and the money paid for rent is considered part of the payment of the house/appartment etc. You can obviously pay like 5-10% previously to signal your true commitment to buy the thing. But in those times that many may have some good assets, some income but no credit, nothing is better tha a rent-to-buy contract to get your house.