One of the biggest downsides to buying a home is the amount of cash you need to come up with upfront. Saving for a down payment while paying all your other bills is daunting — for example, a 20 percent down payment on a $300,000 home is $60,000. There are also closing costs to consider, as well as long-term recurring expenses like property taxes and home maintenance. However, many mortgages don’t require a full 20 percent down, and there are also many financial assistance options to help lower-income and first-time buyers cover down payment costs.