Saving for a Down Payment? Here’s What You Need To Know.

"One of the biggest misconceptions among housing consumers is what the typical down payment is and what amount is needed to enter homeownership."

Verify my mortgage eligibility (Nov 21st, 2024)

And a recent Freddie Mac survey finds:

". . . nearly a third of prospective homebuyers think they need a down payment of 20% or more to buy a home. This myth remains one of the largest perceived barriers to achieving homeownership."

Here's the good news. Unless specified by your loan type or lender, it's typically not required to put 20% down. This means you could be closer to your homebuying dream than you realize!

According to NAR, the median down payment hasn't been over 20% since 2005. In fact, the median down payment for all homebuyers today is only 14%. And it's even lower for first-time homebuyers at just 6% (see graph below):

What does this mean for you? It means you may not need to save as much as you originally thought.

Learn About Options That Can Help You Toward Your Goal

And it's not just how much you need for your down payment that isn't clear. There are also misconceptions about down payment assistance programs. For starters, many people believe there's only assistance available for first-time homebuyers. While first-time buyers have many options to explore, repeat buyers have some, too.

According to Down Payment Resource, there are over 2,000 homebuyer assistance programs in the U.S., and the majority are intended to help with down payments. That same resource goes on to say:

"You don't have to be a first-time buyer. Over 38% of all programs are for repeat homebuyers who have owned a home in the last 3 years."

Verify my mortgage eligibility (Nov 21st, 2024)

Plus, there are even loan types, like FHA loans with down payments as low as 3.5%. There are also options like VA loans and USDA loans with no down payment requirements for qualified applicants.

If you're interested in learning more about down payment assistance programs, information is available through sites like Down Payment Resource. Then, partner with a trusted mortgage broker to learn what you qualify for on your homebuying journey.

Remember, a 20% down payment isn't always required. In fact, The Byron Mortgage Team has access to many different loan programs that require far less than 20% down. If you want to purchase a home this year, let's connect to get you pre-qualified and on your way to buying your next home.