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You may have heard that 20% is the ideal down payment on a house, but that doesn’t mean you must pony up that amount to become a homeowner. In truth, the average house down payment is considerably smaller. Currently, the median down payment for a house is 15%, according to data from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

Here, you’ll learn more about down payments so you can house-hunt like an insider. Getting a sense of what others are paying and how that differs based on geographic area is helpful. We’ll also share how you might access help if you can’t come up with 20%. Armed with this intel, you’ll be better prepared to navigate that major rite of passage: purchasing a home.

Average Down Payment Statistics

As of 2023, the median down payment for a house was 15%, or $63,908 if you consider that the median national home price in 2023 was $426,056, according to Redfin. This was up slightly from 13% in 2022, according to the NAR. (The median means half of buyers put down less and half put down more; it’s generally considered a better barometer than an average, because the latter can be thrown off by outliers — people who spend wildly more or less than usual.)

This 15% figure shows that the conventional wisdom that you need 20% down to purchase a home is, to a large extent, untrue. In fact, in an April 2024 SoFi survey of prospective homebuyers, many planned to put down far less than 20%. Almost a third of respondents (29%) said they planned to put down 10% or less, and 7% of those surveyed were exploring zero-down-payment options.

A 20% down payment will lower your mortgage amount and monthly payments vs. a smaller down payment, and will allow you to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), but it’s not the only game in town.

Average Down Payment on a House for First-Time Buyers

First-time buyers make about a third of all home purchases, and the typical down payment for first-time buyers in the NAR survey was 8%, while repeat buyers’ typical down payment was 19%. (Repeat buyers often have money from the sale of their first residence to put toward the purchase of their next one.)

Down Payment Requirements by Mortgage Loan Type

The amount of money you put down on a home may be governed in part by the type of mortgage loan you choose (and conversely, how much money you have saved for a down payment could dictate the type of mortgage you qualify for). Let’s take a look at the different loan types and their down payment requirements.

Remember that if you are buying your first home or you haven’t purchased a residence in three or more years, you may qualify as a first-time homebuyer and be eligible for special first-time homebuyer programs.

Conventional Loan

This is the kind of loan favored by most buyers, and for first-time homebuyers some conventional home loans can allow for as little as 3% down on a home purchase. A repeat homebuyer might need to put down a bit more — say 5%.

FHA Loan

An FHA loan, acquired through private lenders but guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, allows for a 3.5% minimum down payment if the borrower’s credit score is at least 580.

VA Loan and USDA Loan

These loans usually require no down payment, although there are still other hoops to jump through to qualify for one of these loans.

A VA loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is for eligible veterans, service members, Reservists, National Guard members, and some surviving spouses. The VA also issues direct loans to Native American veterans or non-Native American veterans married to Native Americans. For a typical VA loan borrower, no down payment is required.

A USDA loan backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is for households with low to moderate incomes buying homes in eligible rural areas. The USDA also offers direct subsidized loans for households with low and very low incomes. Typically, a credit score of 640 or higher is needed. While borrowers can make a down payment, one is not required.

Jumbo Loan

A jumbo loan is a loan for an amount over the conforming loan limit, which is set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). In most U.S. counties, the conforming loan limit for a single-family home in 2025 is $806,500. Minimum down payment rules for jumbo loans vary by lender but are generally higher than those for conforming loans. Some lenders require a 10% down payment, and others require as much as 20%.

For all of the above loan types, the home being purchased must be a primary residence in order to qualify for the minimum down payment, but a homebuyer can use a conventional or VA loan to purchase a multifamily property with up to four units if one unit will be owner-occupied.

Average Down Payment by Age Group

The latest NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report breaks down by age the percentage of a home that was financed by homebuyers in 2023.

Older buyers tend to use proceeds from the sale of a previous residence to help fund the new home. Buyers 59 to 68 years old, for instance, put a median of 22% down, the NAR report shows.

Most younger buyers depend on savings for their down payment. Buyers ages 25 to 33 put down a median of 10%, and those ages 34 to 43, 13%. A fortunate 20% of the younger homebuyers (those age 25-33) received down payment help from a friend or relative.

Percentage of Home Financed

Average Down Payment by State

The average house down payment in any given state is tied to home prices in that location. You can look into the cost of living by state for an overview and then find the median home value in a particular state at a given point in time and estimate what your down payment might be.

The least expensive states in which to buy a home? Iowa, Oklahoma, Ohio, Mississippi, and Louisiana are among them, according to Redfin.

Average Down Payment On a House in California

California, the most populous state and one of the largest by area, is joined by Hawaii and Colorado on many lists of the most expensive states in which to buy a house. Redfin shows a median sales price of $859,300 in California in spring of 2024. A 3% down payment would be $25,779; 10% down, $85,930; and 20% down, $152,260. The Los Angeles housing market is among the toughest in California, with the median sale price up more than 10% in the last year to $1,050,000. You might want to check out housing market trends by city as well if you are interested in finding out where owning a home could be more or less expensive.

Hawaii comes out near the top with a median home price of $754,800. Three percent down would be $22,644; 10% down, $75,480; and 20%, $150,960. In Hawaii, the conforming loan limit is $1,209,750, a reflection of the state’s high home prices. If you need a mortgage for more than that amount in Hawaii, you’ll be in the market for a jumbo loan.

Recommended: How to Afford a Down Payment on Your First Home

Source of Down Payment

You’re probably wondering where homebuyers get the money to afford a down payment, especially first-time homebuyers. NAR has polled buyers to probe that question. Not surprisingly, more than half of buyers (53%) simply say they have saved up the money — which of course isn’t simple at all.

Savings is especially likely to fund a home purchase for those ages 25-33. Almost three-quarters of younger buyers rely on it for their down payment. Older buyers also use savings but are more likely to draw on the sale of a primary residence. This is especially true after age 59.

Other down payment sources include gifts from relatives or friends, sale of stock, a loan or draw from a 401K or pension, or an inheritance. For those who don’t have generational wealth or savings to rely on, first-time homebuyer programs can make home ownership possible.

City, county, and state down payment assistance programs are also out there. They may take the form of grants or second mortgages, some with deferred payments or a forgivable balance.

How Does Your Down Payment Affect Your Monthly Payments?

Curious to see what your potential mortgage would look like based on different down payments? Start with a home affordability calculator (like the one below) to get a feel for how much you’ll need to put down and other expenses.

Or use this mortgage calculator to estimate how much your mortgage payments would be, depending on property value, down payment, interest rate, and repayment term.

Should You Aim for 20% Down?

You’re probably wondering if you should try to put 20% down to get a mortgage loan? Not necessarily. It’s an individual decision. Here are some things to consider:

If Your Down Payment Is 20% or More

Putting down at least 20% has benefits:

•  You won’t have to pay for mortgage insurance: If you put down 20% or more with a conventional loan, you won’t be required to pay for PMI, which protects the lender if you were to stop making payments.

•  Your loan terms may be better: Lenders look at an applicant’s credit history, employment stability, income, debt-to-income ratio, and savings. They’ll calculate the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, or what percentage of the home’s purchase price will be covered by the mortgage.

Lenders often provide a better rate to borrowers who have an LTV ratio of 80% or lower — in other words, at least a 20% down payment — because they consider them a better risk.

•  You have instant equity in the property: You borrowed less than you could have, which translates to a lower mortgage payment, less interest paid over the life of the loan, and the potential later to take out a home equity loan.

Recommended: What Do I Need to Buy a House?

If Your Down Payment Is Less Than 20%

If your down payment will be less than 20%, you now know that you’ll have plenty of company. (In SoFi’s survey, 14% of would-be buyers said not having an adequate down payment was their primary challenge.) Consider these ways to optimize the situation:

•  A government loan could be the answer: FHA loans are popular with some first-time buyers because of the lenient credit requirements. The down payment for an FHA loan is just 3.5% if you have a credit score of 580 or more. Just know that upfront and monthly mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) always accompany FHA loans, and remain for the life of the loan if the down payment is under 10%. If you put 10% or more down, you’ll pay MIP for 11 years.

•  You may be able to improve your loan terms: If you can’t pull together 20% for a down payment, you can still help yourself by showing lenders that you’re a good risk. You’ll likely need a FICO® score of at least 620 for a conventional loan. If you have that and other positive factors, you may qualify for a more attractive interest rate or better terms.

•  You can eventually cancel PMI: Lenders are required to automatically cancel PMI when the loan balance gets to 78% LTV of the original value of the home. You also can ask your lender to cancel PMI on the date when the principal balance of your mortgage falls to 80% of the original home value.

You may be able to find down payment assistance: City, county, and state down payment assistance programs are out there, and SoFi’s survey suggests they don’t get enough attention: About half (49%) of the homebuyers who said they were challenged to come up with a down payment hadn’t looked into city or state down payment assistance programs. The assistance may take the form of grants or second mortgages, some with deferred payments or a forgivable balance.

Dream Home Quiz

The Takeaway

What is the average down payment on a house? Currently, it’s about 15% of the home’s purchase price, which usually means mortgage insurance and higher payments for the buyer. But buyers who put less than 20% down on a house unlock the door to homeownership every day. If you want to join them, you can be helped along by low down payments for first-time homebuyers, as well as government loans, down payment assistance, and other programs.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

FAQ

Is 10% down payment enough for a house?

Yes. More than a third of all buyers put down 10% or even less to buy a home. Lower down payments are especially common among younger and/or first-time homebuyers.

What is the minimum you should put down on a house?

Conventional wisdom says the minimum down payment is 20%, but most buyers put down less — 15% is far more common. Younger buyers and first-time homebuyers, especially, often put down far less and some home loans allow you to finance 97% or even 100% of the home’s cost.

What factors can affect my down payment requirements?

The amount of down payment you’ll need to come up with depends on your loan type, credit history and credit score, the cost of the property you’re buying, and whether you are a first-time homebuyer.

What are the pros and cons of putting down less than 20% on a house?

Putting down less than 20% on a house might allow you to buy a home sooner. It might also permit you to set aside money for renovations or to pay off other debts. The disadvantage is that those who put down less than 20% usually have to pay for private mortgage insurance which adds to their monthly costs. (Those with FHA loans who put down less than 20% will pay a mortgage insurance premium.)

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information.

SOHL-Q324-107

Whether relocating for a new job or competing in a seller’s market, many buyers need to move quickly. When time is of the essence, some may make an offer on a home without touring it in person.

Although this sounds complex, it’s nothing new, and the practice saw a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even now that we have returned to the days of live open houses, 40% of home-shoppers say they’re willing to buy a home sight unseen if it meets their criteria and budget, according to an April 2024 SoFi survey of 500 people. (More than a third, 39%, said they wouldn’t buy sight unseen, and another 21% weren’t sure.)

Thinking about buying a house sight unseen? Here are six tips for navigating risk in the remote real estate market.

1. Get Preapproved for a Home Loan

Before making an offer, prospective buyers can do some front-end work to expedite the purchase process if they need financing. Becoming prequalified for a home loan is a quick first step to get an estimate of how large a mortgage a buyer would likely qualify for. This helps house hunters focus their search on homes they can reasonably expect to obtain financing for.

Lenders determine prequalification according to basic financial information, such as income, debt, and assets. Often buyers simply self-report their finances at this stage.

Then there’s mortgage preapproval, a much deeper dive into qualifying for a mortgage. Becoming preapproved often requires bank statements, proof of assets, and a look at credit history.

When buying a house sight unseen, especially in a hot market, getting preapproved can reasonably assure sellers that buyers can get financing for the amount they’ve offered.

In a superheated market, with bidding wars, cash offers, and skipped inspections, some agents suggest going through full underwriting, with only the appraisal left in order to close the deal.

If you’re buying a vacation home or investment property, you’ll be evaluated by lenders in a similar fashion to your first home loan.


💡 Quick Tip: You deserve a more zen mortgage loan. When you buy a home, SoFi offers a guarantee that your loan will close on time. Backed by a $5,000 credit.‡

2. Research the Neighborhood

Whether you’re looking to buy in your favorite vacation destination or have never set foot in the area, there are resources available to better inform your search.

While listings can do a good job of capturing a house in its best light, they do not give buyers the full picture of the property’s curb appeal and neighborhood. To get the lay of the land, Google Maps and Google Earth are easy tools for exploring the property and neighborhood via street view and satellite imagery. Walk Score is useful to determine a home’s proximity to amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Other apps can give insight into community characteristics and local happenings. NeighborhoodScout provides localized information on crime, school rankings, and real estate prices. Another option is Nextdoor, which lets users connect with neighbors, local businesses, and other resources.

A look at housing market trends in select cities can help you home in popular neighborhoods, home prices, demographics, and more.

3. Find a Trusted Real Estate Agent

Once you’ve taken care of financing and focused your search geographically, finding a reputable real estate agent can help take the guesswork out of buying a house sight unseen.

Since you won’t be able to tour the house in person, a buyer’s agent can act as your eyes and ears on the ground. Without their assistance, the sight-unseen house cost could rise significantly, thanks to unforeseen repairs and upgrades.

Finding a real estate agent who is familiar with the area can be advantageous for evaluating sight-unseen house prices. Their experience in the local market makes it easier to find comparable listings and weigh options.

When interviewing potential agents, you can ask if they’ve helped clients buy sight unseen before. Because your relationship will be virtual leading up to inspection or move-in day, it’s important to consider communication skills and style.

In SoFi’s survey, among people willing to buy a home sight unseen, getting additional information and thorough documentation from the seller (usually via the real estate agent) was the top way buyers planned to mitigate risk.

4. Take a Virtual Tour

Starting with online listing photos and virtual walk-throughs is helpful to determine if a house is worth a closer look. What’s more, photo editing and wide-angle shots can misrepresent a space, so organizing a guided virtual tour with a friend, relative, or real estate agent onsite may serve a buyer well. In SoFi’s survey of potential homebuyers, 39% of people had used a virtual tour to evaluate a property.

Using FaceTime, Zoom, or similar video chat apps can let buyers ask questions in real-time and get a more intimate sense of the property. Seeing the space firsthand (albeit virtually) may give a more realistic impression than measurements and square footage alone can convey.

💡 Quick Tip: If you refinance your mortgage and shorten your loan term, you could save a substantial amount in interest over the lifetime of the loan.

5. Touch Base After the Inspection, If You Have One

A home inspection is common with most real estate transactions.

A home inspector examines a house’s physical and interior structure, as well as major systems like plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. The resulting inspection report highlights any visible problems, necessary repairs, and potential risks.

When buying a house sight unseen, it can be beneficial to have your real estate agent attend and video call to walk you through any notable issues that arise.

A home inspection contingency in an offer generally allows buyers to pull out of the purchase if major issues are found. It may also be possible to negotiate with the seller to have repairs addressed or costs deducted from the purchase price.

In a supercharged market, buyers may choose to waive the home inspection contingency to improve their candidacy in a multiple-offer situation. Those who take this path may still be able to arrange a pre-offer home inspection. The results won’t be negotiable or permit backing out without losing the deposit.

Waiving the home inspection is a risk that may be best reserved for buyers with sufficient cash for repairs.

6. Arrange a Virtual Closing

If you have to buy sight unseen and can’t attend the closing in person, there are options for closing remotely, depending on the state and lender.

Certain documents, such as the deed and affidavit of title, need to be notarized to finalize the home purchase. Remote online notarization allows buyers to sign closing documents with an electronic signature and allows all parties to meet virtually.

The process is authorized in most states, but certain documents, including promissory notes, may need to be signed in person. Also, be sure to check if your state requires a lawyer to be physically present at the closing.

Lenders will usually need an appraisal of the property to finalize a home loan. This process can be arranged from afar or coordinated through your real estate agent.

At a virtual closing, closing costs can be paid electronically with a bank-to-bank or wire transfer.

Giving your lender, real estate agent, and the title company ample notice that you intend to close virtually can help seal the deal without a hitch.

The Takeaway

Do people put offers on homes without seeing them? Some do, yes. Having your mortgage financing in order, working with a knowledgeable real estate agent, and doing virtual research can be helpful when buying a house sight unseen.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

Photo credit: iStock/MicroStockHub

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Mortgages
Terms, conditions, and state restrictions apply. Not all products are available in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information.