Affording a house has never been easy—but it’s particularly difficult for millennials, who, according to New America, have 35% less wealth than previous generations. In fact, 70% of millennials flat out say that they can’t afford to buy a house.

Recently, one Twitter user named Josh Krugar asked millennials (or younger people) who have bought a house to explain how they afforded the down payment and closing costs. The answers are pretty shocking. Read on for the responses that disclose just what exactly it took for these youngins to become homeowners!

1. Received it As a Gift

   My parents are wealthy and gave us the gift of a down payment. We did not ask for it – we weren’t even considering home ownership at all.I am fortunate, and never forget that. Anyone who does not see the connection between being born to a family of means and luck is delusional.

   — Hi, I’m JLaw. My voice is my passport. (@The_Same_Device) September 17, 2021

2. A Life Insurance Payout

   Literally the only reason we were able to afford a house was an inheritance. The only reason we are able to afford our kitchen reno six years later was a life insurance payout.We don’t shy away from that fact

   — Kelley Ware (@mskelleyware) September 17, 2021

3. Received a VA Loan

   My husband serving 3 tours in Iraq and missing the first 2 years of our son’s life = VA loan which doesn’t require a down payment

   — MC (@melymj4) September 16, 2021

4. Used a First-Time Homebuyers Program

   I did it through a first time homeowners program in Georgia and then a grant in atlanta specifically for first time owners that qualify which covered the down payment and most of the closing costs

   — within and without (@Guavah_Go) September 17, 2021

5. Stocks

   Stock from one of my first jobs out of college. The company made it public eventually and it became worth enough for a down payment. If the company had failed, I wouldn’t have had enough savings for a place.

   — 1 compliment only please (@dennisnahas) September 17, 2021

6. Having a Joint Income

   My wife and I were able to save because we lived in a one bedroom for under $1000/mo for over 5 years. Being a couple and waiting was the only way. Single friends can’t get close to the savings.

   — Noah Corbett (@mrncorbett) September 16, 2021

7. Took Money from 401K

   I identify as an ‘elder Millennial’ Hope this counts! Anyway, as a young, single mom I purchased the house I was renting as I loved the house & neighborhood & didn’t want to move my kids. I took money from my 401(k) – around $30K, which wasn’t enough for the down payment

   — Denyse (@SFDenyse) September 17, 2021

8. Used Parents’ Money

   I absolutely purchased my first house with money that my parents had saved for me and I wouldn’t have been able to purchase it without that cash. I’m grateful for it, but yeah, I definitely don’t pretend I am who I am without the support they gave me.

   — The Chemist, Tom (@ChemistTom) September 16, 2021

9. An Insurance Settlement

   Older millennials. Buying our first home was possible because of an insurance settlement that was put in a trust for my husband after his mother’s death over thirty years ago.

   — PacNWMama (@jessloveswine) September 17, 2021

10. Lived Low Cost for a Bit

    This plus the money I saved while I worked in Japan for two years and had ridiculously low cost-of-living, a decent salary, and I was exempt from paying US taxes.

    — Emily Carrigan (@emleh06) September 17, 2021

11. Worked Really Hard for it

    Umm, I was able to save the $23K we put as a down payment purely because I work harder than everyone else our age. It definitely had nothing to do with the below market rent my wife and I were able to land in LA because my aunt was a well-liked renter of our landlord.

    — Mattttt (@Mattttt89) September 17, 2021

12. Inheritance

    My dad died suddenly in his 50s, was single, and as his only child, I was the beneficiary of his life insurance policy

    — Liz Lemon, MD (@babbymd) September 17, 2021

13. Lived at Home to Save

    If you are a Millennial or younger homeowner talking about homeownership, you have an ethical duty to disclose the source of your down payment and closing costs.

    — Josh Kruger (@JoshKrugerPHL) September 16, 2021

Are you a millennial who owns a home? Tell us: How did you get there?