Down payments & PMI
STEP 1
What can you afford

STEP 2

Down payments and PMI

STEP 3
Finding your team

STEP 4

Finding the right home

STEP 5

Working with your lender

STEP 6
Making your offer

STEP 7

Inspecting and appraising

STEP 8
Closing your loan

8 helpful steps written by Fannie Mae

Step 2

Down Payments & PMI

Typically, buyers put down 5 to 20% of the purchase price but this can be as little as 3%. Buyers putting down less than 20% are required to pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) monthly until they build up 20% equity in their home.

Did you know?
The National Association of REALTORS® reported that in 2019, the median down payment was 12% for all buyers and 6% for first-time buyers.

The reality of down payments
A recent Freddie Mac survey found that 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.

What most people don’t realize is that you have choices when it comes to your down payment, even the possibility of putting as little as 3% down through Freddie Mac’s Home Possible® or HomeOne® mortgages.

Where PMI comes in
If you make a down payment of less than 20%, you’ll have to pay PMI each month until you build up 20% equity in your home. Take the time to understand PMI as the cost can be relatively small in comparison to the value of being able to secure a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage sooner rather than later.

Funding your down payment
While most buyers use personal savings to finance down payments, there are many other options, including gifts or loans from relatives. In addition, many state, county, and city governments offer down payment assistance programs to people in their communities who are well qualified and ready for homeownership.

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Savings, inheritence, retirement accounts, other assets

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Proceeds from sale of previous property

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Gift or loan from family or friend

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Second lien, home equity loan, or equity line of credit

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Assistance or loan from nonprofit or government agency

Carefully evaluate your finances to determine how much you can afford and talk with your lender or housing professional about the down payment option that makes best sense for you.

As you save for your down payment, remember there are other costs related to the purchase of a home, aside from the down payment.

Source: Fannie Mae