Many would-be homebuyers are finding the path to homeownership increasingly steep. Rising home prices, higher interest rates, and stagnant wages have made saving for a down payment difficult while also pushing monthly mortgage payments out of reach for some.
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In response, builder incentives — such as mortgage rate buydowns, closing cost assistance, and design upgrades — are being used more frequently to move hesitant buyers off the sidelines. For Texas-based Betenbough Homes, a combination of $0 down payment financing options through preferred lenders and the builder’s in-house Use-It-Your-Way Cash program is making homeownership more attainable, especially for first-time buyers and young families.
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Betenbough Homes builds in several West Texas markets, including Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland, and Odessa. As part of its commitment to affordability, the builder operates under a cost-plus pricing model, meaning home prices only increase when the company’s internal costs rise, not simply in response to market demand.
Through Betenbough Homes’ network of preferred lenders, buyers have access to a range of 0% down assistance programs. By eliminating the need for a traditional 3% to 20% down payment, these options help open the door to homeownership for many first-time buyers. While these programs are not offered directly by the builder, Betenbough advertises and educates buyers about them to ensure more people are aware of what is available.
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Each program has its own eligibility criteria, including income caps, home price limits, or location restrictions. Many homebuyers are combining these lender-backed programs with Betenbough’s Use-It-Your-Way Cash to reduce the financial barriers to buying a home.
“Affordability is at the heart of Betenbough Homes’ mission, and Use-It-Your-Way Cash is a tangible way to help make homeownership achievable,” the company tells NewHomeSource. “By empowering buyers to direct the funds toward their greatest needs, this incentive transforms obstacles into opportunities and turns the dream of owning a home into a reality for more families.”
The Use-It-Your-Way Cash program can be applied in a variety of ways: to cover closing costs, pay for credit repair, buy out a lease, discount the price of a home, or even upgrade appliances. The flexibility allows buyers to prioritize what matters most to them during the purchase process.
Betenbough Homes launched the incentive program in a post-pandemic market, when rising interest rates and economic uncertainty made many prospective buyers more cautious. The company says the program helps prospective buyers who could afford monthly mortgage payments but may lack the upfront cash needed to close on a home.
The amount of Use-It-Your-Way Cash offered varies by region and the home’s completion status. While incentive amounts may change, the builder anticipates incentives will remain a staple of the housing market in the near term future. The builder, ranked No. 42 on the 2025 Builder 100 list, sees such programs as essential to helping more buyers overcome persistent affordability challenges.
