The minimum down payment required for a conventional mortgage is 3%, but borrowers with lower credit scores or higher debt-to-income ratios may be required to put down more. You'll also likely need a larger down payment for a jumbo loan or a loan for a second home or investment property.
Down Payment Requirements for a Conventional Loan
Putting down at least 20% of the home's price when you buy also eliminates the need for private mortgage insurance, which means your mortgage costs less each month. While a 20% down payment is often recommended, it's not always required.
How Much Is The Average Down Payment On A House? The average first-time buyer pays about 6% of the home price for their down payment, while repeat buyers put down 17%, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS® in late 2022. The median home sale price in the U.S. was $416,100 as of Q2 in 2023.
“Conventional loans have higher minimum requirements than FHA and require a larger down payment,” Yates said. “Sellers prefer a buyer with conventional financing over FHA financing because they feel the buyer is in a better financial position.”
FHA loans allow lower credit scores and require less elapsed time for major credit problems. Conventional loans, however, may require less paperwork and offer better options to avoid costly mortgage insurance premiums.
Down payment: While 20 percent down is the standard, many fixed-rate conventional loans for a primary residence allow for a down payment as small as 3 percent or 5 percent. Private mortgage insurance (PMI): If you put down less than 20 percent, you'll have to pay PMI, an additional fee added to your payments.
In 2022, 9.1 percent of home purchase applications were denied — up from 8.3 percent the year before, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Credit issues, changes in employment status and high debt-to-income ratios are three of the most common reasons that applicants get denied.
A conventional loan is one that is not backed or insured by an agency of the federal government. There are two types of conventional mortgage loans, conforming and non-conforming.
The minimum down payment required for a conventional mortgage is 3%, but borrowers with lower credit scores or higher debt-to-income ratios may be required to put down more. You'll also likely need a larger down payment for a jumbo loan or a loan for a second home or investment property.
It's possible for first-time home buyers to get a conventional mortgage with a down payment as low as 3%.
If you can easily afford it, you should probably put 20% down on a house. You'll avoid paying for private mortgage insurance, and you'll have a lower loan amount and smaller monthly payments to worry about. You could save a lot of money in the long run.
Even though a conventional loan is the most common mortgage, it is surprisingly difficult to get. Borrowers need to have a minimum credit score of about 620 in order to qualify—the highest minimum score of all mortgage products—and have a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less.
As a rule of thumb, approval for a conventional loan requires a minimum credit score of 620. However, a higher credit score not only leads to lower interest rates but also reduces PMI costs. Borrowers with credit scores over 720 generally secure the most favorable conventional mortgage rates.
Backed by Fannie Mae, the Conventional 97 mortgage program, sometimes referred to as 97 Percent LTV Standard, allows you to put just 3 percent down and finance 97 percent of the home (get the name now?).
FHA loans are mortgages insured by the U.S. government's Federal Housing Administration. The insurance allows lenders to offer qualifying terms that are less strict than conventional mortgages. That means that homebuyers (particularly first-time buyers) can more easily qualify for a mortgage.
Federal Housing Administration loans: 14.4% denial rate. Jumbo loans: 17.8% denial rate. Conventional conforming loans: 7.6% denial rate. Refinance loans: 24.7% denial rate.
If a home loan is denied after closing on a home purchase, then buyer would typically lose their deposit and the purchase agreement would become void. The seller would then put the home back on the market.
According to mortgage company Fannie Mae, a conventional loan usually requires a credit score of at least 620. But you may qualify for a government-sponsored loan with a lower score. Read on to learn more about credit scores and how they impact the home-buying process.
An FHA loan may be a better option if you have a lower credit score, a higher DTI ratio, or less money saved for a down payment. On the other hand, a conventional loan may work better if your finances are sound and you can qualify for favorable loan terms.
Virtually every lender requires PMI for conventional mortgages with a down payment less than 20 percent. Some lenders advertise “no-PMI” loans, but these are essentially lender-paid insurance arrangements — you'll likely pay a higher interest rate in exchange.
Sellers often prefer conventional buyers because of their own financial views. Because a conventional loan typically requires higher credit and more money down, sellers often deem these reasons as a lower risk to default and traits of a trustworthy buyer.
A conventional loan is often better if you have good or excellent credit because your mortgage rate and private mortgage insurance (PMI) costs will decrease. But an FHA loan can be perfect if your credit score is in the high 500s or low 600s. For lower-credit borrowers, FHA is often the cheaper option.
Some reasons a seller might refuse an FHA loan include misconceptions about longer closing times, stricter property requirements, or the belief that FHA borrowers are riskier.