Let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of a 20% down payment on a house.
Pros Of Putting 20% Down
A 20% down payment is the often recommended ideal down payment amount for most loans and lenders. If you can afford to put 20% down, you’ll reap the following key benefits:
No PMI
You’ll need to put 20% down to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) on a conventional mortgage loan. PMI is insurance that protects a lender if a borrower defaults on their home loan.
Fortunately, PMI isn’t forever. If you put down less than 20%, you can ask your lender to remove PMI once you’ve reached 20% equity in your home.
Equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and the amount you owe on your mortgage. Here are two ways to build equity:
Your home increases in value
You pay off your mortgage principal through your monthly mortgage payments
Once borrowers build 22% equity in their homes, most lenders automatically cancel PMI.
Better Interest Rates
The interest rate is a percentage of the original loan amount that a lender charges you each month for borrowing money.
The higher your down payment, the more attractive you are to lenders. Putting down 20% may provide access to a lower interest rate. And just a 1 – 2 mortgage point drop in your interest rate can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
Lower Monthly Payments
The larger your down payment, the less money you’ll borrow. The less you borrow, the smaller your monthly mortgage payments will be, leaving extra funds to budget for repairs and other monthly expenses.
Competitive Edge Over Other Buyers
Home sellers often prefer to work with buyers who make at least a 20% down payment. A bigger down payment is a strong signal that your finances are in order, so you may have an easier time getting a mortgage. This can give you an edge over other buyers, especially when the home is in a hot market.
Cons Of Putting 20% Down
Putting 20% down isn’t right for every buyer. Some buyers can’t afford it. Some buyers would prefer to have extra cash set aside for future repairs and expenses. If you’re figuring out how much down payment you need to buy a house, consider these drawbacks:
Less Financial Flexibility
Once you put money down on your mortgage, it’s not easy to get it back. If you think you might need the money for something else later on, it may make more sense to put down less and build your savings.
Less Money For Repairs
Homes that only need a few minor repairs can be a bargain for new buyers. If you anticipate making significant repairs, the larger your down payment, the less money you’ll have to spend on repairs and maintenance.
More Time Required To Save
For most people, saving for a down payment can take months, years or decades. Waiting until you reach the 20% down payment threshold may produce a huge opportunity cost. Delaying may result in significant costs to buyers due to rising home prices and soaring rents. In the long run, it may be more affordable to buy a home sooner than continue to pay rent while you save for a 20% down payment.
While a 20 percent down payment is the traditional standard for purchasing a home, it is not mandatory and there are loan options that have much lower minimum requirements. Private mortgage insurance will likely be required with a down payment of less than 20 percent, which will add to your monthly payment.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan: With an FHA loan, you'll need at least a 3.5% down payment. To qualify for the minimum 3.5% FHA down payment, you need a credit score of 580 or higher. If your credit score is between 500 and 579, you'll put down at least 10%.
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.
For example, first-time homebuyers and buyers with low to moderate incomes could qualify for a fixed-rate conventional loan with a 3 percent down payment. Some lenders require a 5 percent minimum. Keep in mind, too, that to avoid PMI, you'll need to put down at least 20 percent.
FHA loans typically require a minimum down payment of 3.5%, although you may need a down payment of at least 10% if your credit score is between 500 and 579.
Some down payment programs may waive mortgage insurance (MI), but in most cases if your down payment is below 20 percent, you'll be required to get MI — it helps manage risk for your lender and protect them if you fail to repay the mortgage.
How Much of a Down Payment Do You Need for a $200,000 House? 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%).
One rule of thumb is that the cost of your home should not exceed three times your income. On a salary of $70k, that would be $210,000. This is only one way to estimate your budget, however, and it assumes that you don't have a lot of other debts.
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).
Before buying a home, you should ideally save enough money for a 20% down payment. If you get a loan with a lower down payment, you will have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). The purpose of PMI is to protect the mortgage company if you default.
The amount you may want to reduce your home's asking price depends on many factors, including the median price in your area, what comparable homes nearby are selling for and the length of time the home has been on the market. According to a Zillow study, the average price cut is 2.9 percent of the list price.
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.
If you want to avoid mortgage insurance by putting 20% down, your down payment should be $100,000. If you plan to put 8% down (the median for first-time homebuyers) it would be $40,000. If you're a first-time homebuyer with an FHA loan and a 3% down requirement, you would need $15,000.
If you're a buyer who is well qualified to make monthly payments but feeling shut out from the housing market by a lack of upfront cash, ask your lender about low- or no-down payment loans, and also look into government grants and loans that can help make your dream of homeownership a reality.
Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804
Phone: +9958384818317
Job: IT Representative
Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging
Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
