Perceived Financial Stability: A larger down payment often indicates that the buyer is financially stable and more likely to secure financing. Sellers may feel more confident accepting an offer from a buyer with a substantial down payment.
Including a larger earnest money deposit shows the seller how serious you are. The higher the better. Some sellers don't care, but ultimately it makes your offer more attractive.
A bigger down payment results in a reduced monthly payment because you're borrowing less overall. That might be more important than ever in today's economy, where higher interest rates have ballooned monthly payments, and the inflationary environment has squeezed budgets.
Putting down this amount generally means you won't have to worry about private mortgage insurance (PMI), which eliminates one cost of home ownership. For a $400,000 home, a 20% down payment comes to $80,000. That means your loan is for $320,000. You can start shopping for a mortgage right away.
To comfortably afford a $600k mortgage, you'll likely need an annual income between $150,000 to $200,000, depending on your specific financial situation and the terms of your mortgage. Remember, just because you can qualify for a loan doesn't mean you should stretch your budget to the maximum.
20% down payment ($160,000) Very good credit score (740-759) 30-year fixed loan at 6.5% Some existing debts (e.g., $500/month in student loans)
It's not always better to make a large down payment on a house. When it comes to making a down payment, the choice should depend on your own financial goals. It's better to put 20 percent down if you want the lowest possible interest rate and monthly payment.
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.
Financing contingency: Buyers will get their earnest deposit refunded if they're unable to secure financing for the home. An example is if the buyer is unable to qualify for a mortgage during the underwriting of the loan or if the property doesn't meet the lender's standards.
You can, however it is not typically advised. Be aware that changing your down payment amount can result in delays in the process. Your loan will likely need to be rewritten to accommodate for the change – and, if the amount is less than initially planned, you could be at risk of losing your loan approval.
For sellers, lowering a home's price can attract more potential buyers who might not have qualified for a mortgage to the value of the original amount. Properties priced at below market value always attract more buyers.
Note: Current as of Q3, 2023. Ranked 4th and 5th are Washington State and California, requiring median down payments in the mid-$80,000s.
After agreeing to a purchase in writing with the seller, your earnest money deposit will be held in an escrow account until the deal is completed and you close on your home. Once that happens, your earnest money deposit is “refunded” to you by going toward your final closing costs, including your down payment.
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.
On a salary of $100,000 per year, as long as you have minimal debt, you can afford a house priced at around $311,000 with a monthly payment of $2,333. This number assumes a 6.5% interest rate and a down payment of around $30,000. The 28/36 rule is often used as a guide when deciding how much house you can afford.
You can often secure better rates with a larger down payment, but you also need to understand how much you can afford. Paying too little for your down payment might cost more over time, while paying too much may drain your savings. A lender will look at your down payment and determine which mortgage is best.
A higher down payment signals to the seller that you're more financially qualified and therefore less likely to have issues getting a loan and closing the sale. Many prospective buyers submit a mortgage per-approval letter with their initial offer, but pre-approval doesn't guarantee the loan will go through.
Potential for higher interest rates: You may end up with a higher mortgage interest rate due to the assistance, which can increase the overall cost of your loan. “The interest rates on mortgages with assistance are also usually 0.5-1% higher [than those without] to offset risk,” Morgan says, “costing thousands more.”
The Benefits of a Higher Down Payment
Borrowers who put down 20% or more don't have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), which either comes with a heavy one-time premium, or carries annual costs to the borrower of between 0.3% and 1.5% of the entire loan.
If we assume about about a third of your income is dedicated to housing costs, multiply that $57,600 figure by three to approximate the minimum income you'd need to earn to afford a $750K house: $172,800.
With $2,000 per month to spend on your mortgage payment, you are likely to qualify for a home with a purchase price between $250,000 to $300,000, said Matt Ward, a real estate agent in Nashville. Ward also points out that other financial factors will impact your home purchase budget.
The Bottom Line. On a $70,000 salary using a 50% DTI, you could potentially afford a house worth between $200,000 to $250,000, depending on your specific financial situation.