What is the average down payment on a house? | U.S. Bank?

How Much Is The Average Down Payment On A House? The average first-time buyer pays about 6% of the home price for their down payment, while repeat buyers put down 17% , according to data from the National Association of REALTORS ® in late 2022.

How much of a down payment do you need for a $300 000 house?

How much down payment for a $300,000 house? 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.

Is 10% down payment enough for a house?

It is absolutely okay to put 10 percent down on a house . In fact, first-time buyers put down only 13 percent on average. Just note that with 10 percent down, you'll have a higher monthly payment than if you put 20 percent down.

What is the average down payment on a $200 000 home?

To purchase a $200,000 house, you need a down payment of at least $40,000 (20% of the home price) to avoid PMI on a conventional mortgage. If you're a first-time home buyer, you could save a smaller down payment of $10,000–20,000 (5–10%). But remember, that will drive up your monthly payment with PMI fees.

How much is a downpayment on a 500k house in USA?

Conforming loan down payments can vary from 3% to 20% or more, so for a $500,000 home, you'd need between $15,000 and $100,000 . Conforming loans, once again, follow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines and usually offer competitive terms.

What is the average down payment on a house?

There are many costs to factor in when you’re shopping for a home. One of the most important? The down payment. Let’s go over minimum down payments on mortgages, what percentage you may want to save to feel confident going into the mortgage process and some common down payment myths.

Down payment: 101

A down payment is a portion of the cost of a home, that you pay up front. It represents your initial investment in your home. When you put more money down, you're taking some of the risk away from the lender – proof that you’re invested in the purchase and a sign that you’re committed to making all your mortgage payments. In return, the lender may offer you a lower mortgage interest rate.

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Do you have to put 20% down on a house?

No, in fact the median down payment for first-time home buyers in 2021 was just 6% according to the National Association of Realtors.¹ You may have heard that a down payment should be 20% of a home’s purchase price, and while it does have advantages, it’s not necessary.

A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage has a minimum down payment of only 3.5%. It’s available to all qualified buyers, regardless of income level. Also, you can buy a home with no down payment if you meet the specific restrictions of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan or a Veteran Affairs (VA) loan.

Minimum down payments on mortgages

Mortgage type	Minimum down payment	Other restrictions?
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARM)	10%	The loan limit varies by region.
Jumbo loans	10%	Loan amounts up to $3,000,000. For loan limits above conforming loan limits, it’s currently set at $766,550.
Conventional fixed-rate loans	5%	The loan limit varies by region but is generally set at $766,550.
FHA loans	3.5%	The maximum home price in most areas is $498,257 but can be as much as$1,149,825 where home prices are higher.
VA loans	0%	Borrower must be a Military Service Veteran, currently active military service personnel or a surviving spouse.

Mortgage type

Benefits of putting 20% down

While saving up enough money for a 20% down payment may not be necessary, there are benefits. A 20% down payment means you’ll have a smaller monthly mortgage to pay (because you paid for more of the house up front). Plus, you’ll usually get a better interest rate because a larger down payment is a sign that you’re financially stable and a good credit risk.

Another cost savings: not being required to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) on conventional loans. PMI is insurance that a lender might require you to purchase for a conventional loan if your down payment is less than 20% because you would be considered a higher-risk borrower. This is an extra monthly expense you'll need to pay along with your mortgage payment, and it typically costs between 0.5% and 1% of the mortgage amount each year but may run higher. Keep in mind, FHA and USDA loans require a monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and this will be required even if you put 20% or more down.

Reasons for not putting 20% down

While a 20% down payment may help save costs, there are plenty of reasons why it might not be possible. For some, waiting to save up 20% for a down payment may “cost” too much time. While you’re saving for your down payment and paying rent, the price of your future home may go up. So putting less than 20% down might be worth it to get into your first home sooner and start building valuable equity.

If you have high-interest credit card debt or other debt, it’s wise to work to pay down your balances even if that means you’ll have less for a down payment. Also, private mortgage insurance (which may be required on a conventional loan with a down payment of less than 20%) is an extra monthly cost, but it’s not a bad idea to weigh the pros and cons of PMI to become a homeowner.

Our down payment calculator can help you understand the costs and benefits of different down payment amounts so you can decide what makes the most sense for you.

The down payment amount that’s right for one person, won’t necessarily be right for another. It’s important to consider the benefits of different down payment amounts and get advice from loved ones, your real estate agent and a mortgage loan officer to determine what’s right for you.