How much down payment do you need to buy a house? (2024)

FAQs

How much down payment do you need to buy a house? ›

Conventional Home Loan Minimum Down Payment

Is 5–10% Down Enough on a House? Remember, if you're a first-time home buyer, a 5–10% down payment is fine.

If you're wondering what percentage you should put down on a house, 20% down is the rule of thumb, but there is no one-size-fits-all figure. For example, some loan programs require a down payment as little as 3% or 5%, and some don't require a down payment at all.

A 20 percent down payment may be traditional, but it's not mandatory — in fact, according to 2023 data from the National Association of Realtors, the median down payment for U.S. homebuyers was 14 percent of the purchase price, not 20.

The down payment needed for a $300,000 house can range from 3% to 20% of the purchase price, which means you'd need to save between $9,000 and $60,000. If you get a conventional loan, that is. You'll need $10,500, or 3.5% of the home price, with a FHA loan.

The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

Can I buy a house in California with 5% down? The short answer is yes, it's entirely possible to buy a house in California with a 5% down payment. But there are some situations where a larger investment might be required, including borrowers who need to use a “jumbo” loan for a more expensive purchase.

Conventional loans are most often but not always conforming loans, and they're considered the most common mortgage option. The minimum down payment for a conventional mortgage loan is 3% of the purchase price if you're a first-time home buyer, and it's 5% for repeat buyers.

How little can a down payment be? “Well, $3,000 is not enough for a down payment on most houses,” says Jill Gonzalez, an analyst with WalletHub. “The lowest percentage of down payment required is 3.5% for an FHA loan.

Conventional loans typically require 3-20% down for a $200,000 house. Government-backed loans like FHA, VA, and USDA have different down payment requirements. Your down payment affects your monthly payments, interest rates, and additional costs like PMI.

How to put less money down on a house? ›

One solution is to look for a loan without potentially restrictive eligibility requirements, as with a USDA or VA loan, and instead shop around for a loan that has low down payment policies. Many lenders offer mortgages with as little as 3% down, which may work well for some homebuyers.

A larger down payment means lower fees and interest over the life of the loan, while the costs of a smaller down payment add up over time: you may pay more in fees and interest. You can often secure better rates with a larger down payment, but you also need to understand how much you can afford.

The house you can afford on a $70K income will likely be between $290,000 to $310,000. Aside from your gross monthly income, lenders look at your credit report, down payment, monthly debt payments (including car payments and personal loans), and your estimated mortgage rate, among other things.

An individual earning $60,000 a year may buy a home worth ranging from $180,000 to over $300,000. That's because your wage isn't the only factor that affects your house purchase budget. Your credit score, existing debts, mortgage rates, and a variety of other considerations must all be taken into account.

To afford a $300,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $75,000 to $95,000, depending on your financial situation, down payment, credit score, and current market conditions.

Can you get a mortgage with a 10% deposit? Yes – most banks like to see that you have a 10% deposit for the property you're buying. With a 10% deposit, you'll be offered lower interest rates. As you're borrowing less and have a lower interest rate, your monthly repayments will be lower.

You'll need a down payment of $12,000, or 3 percent, if you're buying a $400K house with a conventional loan. Meanwhile, an FHA loan requires a slightly higher down payment of $14,000, equivalent to 3.5 percent of the purchase price.

Down Payment: Unless you are able to obtain a 0% down payment loan, you'll need some money to afford the down payment on a 100K mortgage loan. The average down payment on a home is 13%, as per the National Association of Realtors®. This works out to $13,000 on a $100,000 home.

Conventional loans typically require 3-20% down for a 500k house. Government-backed loans like those from the Federal Housing Administration, VA, and USDA have different down payment requirements. Your down payment affects your monthly payments, interest rates, and additional costs like PMI.