Can I buy a house with NO money down?

Yes and NO.. Yes, if you are a veteran and qualify for your VA loan. Two, if you buy a home in what’s considered rural by the USDA. Three, if you get gift money from a family member for down payment. 

What is a short sale?

A short sale is when a home is sold for less or "short" of the amount of the lien against it. Usually the lender/bank/lien holder will be the one that has to agree to allow this transaction to occur. However, the seller (owner) will usually required to pay taxes on the amount forgiven by the bank. 

What's the difference between short sale and foreclosure?

the legal process by which a mortgagee, or other lien holder, usually a lender, obtains a termination of a mortgagor's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law (after following a specific statutory procedure). When the bank legally takes possess of the home away from the owner. 

Can I get my earnest money deposit back? 

Usually YES. Only if the contract wasn't abrogated for any reason that wasn't clearly stated within it. As long as the buyer hasn't backed out of the purchase contract without just, and agreed upon cause.  

How much money down do I have to have to put down? 

This all depends on a few things: 1.) Quality of the buyers credit 2.) Type of Loan being applied for 3.) Type of property being purchased. If the buyer has great credit and buying a primary home then per the most recent FHA guidelines is minimum 3.5% of the purchase price + closing costs and pre-paid items (taxes, insurances). To figure out what that amount is and your payment click here. 

What price home can I qualify for? 

What you can qualify for to purchase a home depends on how much money you have to put down and how much you can afford as a monthly payment. Don't forget that you have to also include the cost of your property taxes and insurance into that as well. Usually the standard % for you to qualify for monthly mortgage expense no more than 40% of your gross monthly income can be your housing expense. Example: divide your estimated/desired monthly mortgage payment by your GROSS monthly income. A good mortgage calculator is this one.