You can buy a house in the USA with an H1B visa by paying only a 5% down payment. Many people that we spoke to, have informed us that even though they are buying a new house and taking a mortgage, they are only putting in 5% as a down payment. This too, when they can actually pay 20% and avoid the PMI insurance. They are basically trying to keep as much money with them as they can, in the highly unstable environment when your H-1B extension / Amendment or Transfer can be rejected without ever issuing an RFE!