Might depend on your age group. If you were (un)lucky enough to be of home buying age during the 2005ish period, you could get a "NINJA" (No Income? No Job? Approved!) loan. This let you sneak around PMI and even having a down payment by using a 80% LTV conventional 1st mortgage, and a HELOC acting as 2nd mortgage based in order to reach full purchase price. Add in a 10 year interest only period, and you're good to go. What could go wrong?!