A woman who bought her first home at the age of 26 on a $45k salary with "no help from the bank of mom and dad and no savings" has revealed how."

Madison Hill, 30, bought her three-bedroom home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in July 2021 for $105k.

At the time, Madison was working a $45k a year job as a graphic designer with no support from her parents and no savings to cash in.

To get on the property ladder, Madison applied for a Federal Housing Administration loan (FHA loan), which allowed her to put a 3.5 percent down payment on the property - meaning she only had to get roughly $3500.

After securing the loan, she applied for a down payment assistance program - to help eligible homebuyers cover down payment or even closing costs - which covered the full 3.5 percent down payment on the house.

Madison says she will only have to repay the loan if she moves out or refinances her home - and she now pays roughly $900 a month on the property - which includes, mortgage, insurance and property tax.

Lastly, Madison had to pay a $6.5k closing cost on her home - which covered lawyers and surveyors - which she paid by withdrawing from her 401k early - a popular retirement savings plan.

Madison, a city planner, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, said: "I bought my house completely on my own at 26 with no savings and no help from any person in my life."

"I was making $45k a year, I barely had any savings for a home and didn't have to empty my account to buy the house."

"I did a master's in city planning, and that is where I learned about programs like these."

In June 2021, Madison spotted her three-bedroom home on the market for $95k, and put an offer of $105k as there was a lot of interest in the property.

Madison said: "The market was really hot back in 2021."

"It was listed for $95k, but as investors were buying for cash, I offered $10k over the asking price, and it worked."

"The realtor said it was between me and another person."

After putting in an offer, with no savings on hand, Madison applied for a FHA loan - which allowed her to put a 3.5 percent down payment on the property.

Madison said: "FHA loans are typically reserved for people with low to medium incomes, and they let you buy a home with a down payment of only 3.5% percent."

"I worked with a lender who was setting up the mortgage lending for me."

"She was very easy to work with, they don't give you the money, the money goes from the person who is setting up the loan to whoever is selling the house to you."

After putting down payment on the home, Madison applied for a down payment assistance program - to help eligible homebuyers cover down payment or even closing costs - which covered the 3.5 percent down payment on Madison's home.

The down payment assistance program covers the 3.5 percent down payment that the FHA loan requires.

Madison said: "Down payment assistance programs are targeting low to medium-income people who are first-time home buyers."

"They will provide you with a certain amount of money to be used for a down payment for your home."

"The one I have on my home, the terms are I don't have to repay them as long as I am living here."

"If I were to sell or refinance my home, I would have to repay them."

The final money Madison had to cough up was a closing cost of $6.5k – which covered any additional fees from the buying process.

Madison paid that final cost by withdrawing from her 401k – a popular retirement savings plan.

She said: "Your closing costs are fees that have accumulated throughout the buying process."

"I had to pay someone to prepare legal documents, I got someone to check the property to make sure it was safe."

"My closing cost came to around $6.5k, and I was able to pay that completely with money I had withdrawn from my 401k."

"The purchase of your primary residence is an allowable reason for early withdrawal from your 401k."