How do you “break even” when you lose your original downpayment? That is not breaking even…you lost money on the house. If you put down 17%, but sell the house for 17% less and walk away with not having to put in any more money, you lost 17% of your equity. If you put down $0 as a downpayment and the house lost 17%, then you actually saved yourself 17% of the house price.
