If you’re ready to buy a house, you might be wondering how much down payment you’ll need. Here are some things to consider.
What is a down payment on a mortgage?
A mortgage is a loan used to purchase a house. But there are very few mortgages available that will cover the total cost of the home.
Instead, most lenders require that you pay a percentage of the home’s purchase price and finance the rest with a loan. The amount you pay upfront is called a down payment.
This provides the lender with the assurance that you are vested in the property. Otherwise, you may be more likely to default on the mortgage because you didn’t spend any of your own money on the house. Most people won’t miss their monthly mortgage payment and end up in foreclosure. However, lenders typically require it across the board.
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20% Down Payment
Traditionally, banks required individuals to have a 20% down payment on a house to qualify for a loan. But it wound up making homeownership extremely exclusionary.
After all, that amounts to $40,000 on a $200,000, and most people don’t have that kind of money lying around. So while 20% remains the standard down payment preferred by most lenders, it’s no longer the norm.
In fact, data shows that the average down payment amount is shrinking due to young first-time home buyers. But there are some benefits to saving up a larger down payment of 20% before buying a home, and they can add up to some pretty significant savings over time.
Even beyond financial reasons, putting in an offer letter with a 20% down payment with a conventional loan can make you a more attractive buyer when you’re competing for a specific house.
Why? Because it will give you a lower loan-to-value ratio (LTV.) Your loan looks less likely to fall through because you have a more substantial cash flow and assets than someone with a low down payment. All other things equal, a seller will probably select your offer in a competitive market.
Avoid Paying Private Mortgage Insurance
Another major perk of a large down payment? You avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). Any mortgage for a home you own with less than 20% equity is subject to additional insurance to protect the bank.
The amount depends on your loan type, but it’s usually an annual amount divided out as part of your monthly payments. To get rid of the mortgage insurance, you typically have to refinance the loan, which can be costly.
You also get a better interest rate with a higher down payment. On top of that, having a smaller loan amount lowers your monthly mortgage payment, giving you more money left in your pocket each month.
Low Down Payment Mortgage Options
Most lenders these days don’t expect you to have a full 20% down payment saved up. How much down payment you’ll need for a house depends on the type of loan you choose. The exact amount you’ll need varies based on several factors.
Here’s a rundown of the most common types of mortgages and the down payment requirements for each one. Start here to begin your selection process. It’s also wise to ask potential lenders to provide different scenarios for each loan type you qualify for.
Conventional Loans
Even if you don’t have a 20% down payment, you can qualify for a conventional loan. The minimum down payment is 3%, although you can also do any amount higher than that.
On a $200,000 home, you would pay $6,000 with the minimum down payment. Up until a few years ago, at least a 5% down payment was required.
However, Fannie Mae studies indicated that saving up that much money was creating an obstacle to homeownership for many creditworthy individuals. So they created a 97% loan-to-value option that lenders can offer to mortgage applicants.
2% may not seem like a huge difference, but it adds up quickly when dealing with such large dollar amounts. In the scenario above, a 5% down payment on the same house would require a $10,000 down payment — $4,000 more than the 3% option.
Conventional Mortgage Lender Requirements
To qualify for a conventional mortgage, you’ll need to meet certain lender requirements, which can be strict compared to other loan types. For example, credit score requirements generally start around 620, although some lenders may accept as low as 580.
You’ll receive a higher interest rate with both a lower credit score and a small down payment, another factor in determining how much to save for your home. Of course, as with any down payment under 20%, you will have to pay mortgage insurance.
The exact rate can vary, but here’s an example of how much it could cost you. If your loan amount is $194,000 (after your 3% down payment) and your annual mortgage insurance rate is 0.5%, you’d have to pay $970 each year. Split up over 12 monthly mortgage payments, your PMI would add just over $80 to your bill.
FHA Loans
An FHA loan is another option for a loan with a low down payment. FHA loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and insured by the federal government. They allow you to qualify for a mortgage without as many restrictions as conventional loans.
With an FHA loan, you only need a 3.5% down payment. So on that same $200,000 house, you’d only need to supply $7,000 in upfront cash.
FHA Loan Lender Requirements
You also get to take advantage of lower credit score requirements, with the minimum at only 580. Plus, you can qualify with a higher debt-to-income ratio. Conventional lenders only allow 43% of your monthly income to go towards debt payments, including your mortgage.
On the other hand, an FHA lender might let that number creep up between 45% and 50%. So, this is another example of a couple of percentage points making a difference in how much home you can afford.
Mortgage Rates and Private Mortgage Insurance
Again, lower mortgage application standards, including a smaller down payment, typically result in higher costs elsewhere. As a result, you’re likely to see higher interest rates and a higher PMI. With an FHA loan, you’ll have to pay that PMI in two different ways.
The first is a one-time payment at closing. This amounts to 1.75% of your loan amount. Again, say that you’re taking out a $190,000 loan; part of your closing costs would include a $3,325 PMI payment. On top of that, you’ll pay about 0.85% annually.
In this example, that amounts to $1,615, adding $134 to your monthly mortgage payment. So making a low down payment can cost you when it comes to paying PMI each month! Still, it may be a better option, especially if you can quickly reach a 20% loan-to-value and refinance the home loan in a few years.
VA Loans
If you’re a military veteran or active military member, you can qualify for a loan backed by the VA. The great thing about this type of loan is that it doesn’t require any down payment at all.
It also has lower credit score requirements, and no mortgage insurance is required. You do, however, have to pay a one-time funding fee. It can either be paid at closing or rolled into your mortgage amount.
The fee amount varies depending on a few different factors, including your down payment amount, your type of service, and whether you’ve used a VA loan in the past. But if you are regular military personnel and a first-time user of the VA loan with a zero dollar down payment, your funding fee will total 2.15% of the loan amount.
For the sake of comparison, let’s look at the $190,000 loan again. In this scenario, your funding fee comes to $4,085. Since it’s just a one-time fee, the impact on your monthly payment would be fairly minimal since it’s spread out over 30 years.
USDA Loans
A USDA loan is backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and promotes homeownership in rural areas. But you don’t have to buy a farm to qualify for this loan type. In fact, many peripheral suburban areas are included.
The great thing is that there is no down payment required for a USDA loan. However, you must meet certain income requirements and may only earn a certain amount each year, which varies depending on where you live.
Like VA loans, USDA loans don’t require PMI, but you have to pay an upfront premium if your down payment is less than 20%. The premium amount is 2% of your loan amount. That would be $3,800 on a $190,000 loan.
Again, you can either pay it up front as part of your closing costs or roll it into your mortgage amount. Check out the eligibility map to see if any properties near you qualify for a USDA loan.
HomeReady Loans
Our final low down payment loan is the HomeReady loan. This loan helps potential homeowners in low-income areas to get the financing they need for a mortgage.
The required down payment is just 3%, and your debt-to-income ratio can be as high as 50%. There’s no income limit, but the property does have to be located in a low-income census tract.
You also have to complete an online education program about homeownership. You will need to pay mortgage insurance with the minimum down payment. However, the program claims to offer lower premiums compared to other loans.
If you find a home you love in an approved area, it’s definitely worth comparing to other available options.
See also: How to Buy a House With No Down Payment
What other costs are associated with buying a home?
We’ve talked a lot about private mortgage insurance adding to the total cost of your loan. But it’s also important to remember that there are fees and expenses to consider.
Some you’ll have to pay upfront, while others are paid over the course of the loan. But, first, remember that your monthly payment includes not only principal and interest but also taxes and insurance.
PITI
Cumulatively, this is called PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance), and those add-ons are often overlooked when using a mortgage calculator. City or county taxes are owed every year, but most lenders charge you monthly and then make the payment on your behalf.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is also required for a loan and can easily tack on an extra $300 to $1,000 per year, depending on the value of your home.
Closing Costs
You should also consider closing costs. Many buyers may try to negotiate that the seller covers these costs, but this tactic isn’t always successful, particularly in competitive real estate markets.
Closing costs cover various services and fees and usually amount to 3-5% of the home’s purchase price. So on that $200,000 home, you could end up paying between $6,000 and $10,000 in closing costs.
If you don’t have the cash up front, you can typically roll them into the loan, but you’ll end up with higher monthly payments. Don’t be afraid of closing costs or any other fees associated with a mortgage, especially if you don’t have much saved for a down payment.
Homeownership can often be a worthwhile investment and an enjoyable one! Educate yourself and run different down payment scenarios to pick the best one for your budget.
