When you want something badly enough, usually the proper discipline and determination can help you find a way to make it happen – whether that means draining out the last drop of laundry detergent to finish a load or fishing around the center console for the extra change needed to get through the toll. But when it comes to finding the scratch to make the down payment on your dream home, it often requires a little more ingenuity and a whole lot more homework on your part.

Most lenders require anywhere from 10 percent to as little as 3 percent down on the purchase of a new or existing home, says Carl Agard, a broker and author of “Getting the Real Out of Real Estate” (Adelphi Publishing and Media Group, 2006). “This depends on the type of loan program the buyer is getting. Credit scores are a big factor in determining the required down payment for the lender. The lower your credit score, the more the down payment can be.”

“The traditional method of coming up with a down payment – save, save, save – is tougher today as prices of homes rise,” says Alison Rogers, a licensed saleswoman with DG Neary Realty, Manhattan. “But young buyers are finding a way. Now, buyers tend to do a combination of saving and borrowing. They dig into their own resources, get a second loan from a bank and often ask for gifts from their families.”

Indeed, if you’re on a tight budget, a popular way to come up with a down payment is to accept a monetary gift from a friend or relative, says Agard. Gifts must be disclosed to lenders, who also require a signed gift letter from the donor that states there is no expectation of repayment.

Scott Yonehiro, senior board member of First Security Lending, Burbank, California, says that borrowers with limited finances also can try to qualify for a silent home-purchase loan provided by most U.S. cities and counties. This type of financing assistance from a local government agency is offered to ensure growth within local communities. Silent loans can be for as much as 15 percent of the value of the purchased property, with no repayments form the borrower ever required, as long as they do not sell or refinance the property to pull out equity for a set amount of years.

“However, the time frame for this restriction can be as long as 20 years, and if broken, interest is due back to the governing agency and with a pretty stiff penalty,” says Yonehiro, who adds that down-payment assistance also is commonly provided by nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, like PreferredProgram (www.preferredprogram.org). Other government programs and resources can be found at www.hud.gov/buying/localbuying.cfm.

Consumer banks and mortgage lenders aren’t the only sources borrowers turn to for extra greenbacks. “Some buyers also take a loan out against their whole life insurance policy if it has a large face value to borrow against,” says Agard.

If you’re getting married and planning to buy a home together, one creative down payment fundraising tactic is to establish a down-payment registry with your bank, which essentially is a savings account into which friends and family members can deposit monetary gifts.

Strategies to avoid when hunting for down-payment funds include maxing out your credit cards to obtain the necessary cash, says Agard. “The 18 to 22 percent finance charges will kill you.”

He also cautions against borrowing from relatives or loved ones who will make you repay with interest. “If you aren’t able to repay, you run the chances of ruining your relationships with these people,” he says.

Yonehiro adds that it may not be wise to liquidate any type of retirement accounts, including IRAs or 401(k) accounts, which may incur steep penalties and defeat the purpose of saving money – and earning compounded interest – for your future needs.

“Generally, it is not advisable,” he says. “However, some 401(k) accounts allow funds to be removed without penalty as long as they are applied to a down payment towards a home to be lived in.” Agard recommends checking with your accountant to see if any excess fees or taxes are involved with dipping into a retirement account.

Lastly, be careful you don’t misrepresent your ability to have the down payment, says Macon McDavid, Realtor/broker with Realty Executives Parrish Realty, Knightdale, North Carolina. “You must have these funds in an account, stock or something which you can convert to cash. If someone lends you the money and you just put it into your bank or savings account, the bank can trace it and find out where you got it. You need a paper trail and you must be honest.”

Ultimately, “buying a house is a huge commitment, and there will be more financial obligations that come up within the first couple of months once you close,” Agard says. If you do not have enough money for the down payment, you may have a lot of problems trying to make ends meet once you have to pay a mortgage, and soon enough you may find your house up for foreclosure, he says. “At least be prepared to save up to 3 percent of the sales price of the house you want to buy, as well as three months worth of mortgage payments, just in case of any emergencies.”