05/04/2026
62% of Americans believe you need 20% down to buy a home. That single misconception is likely the number one reason renters stay renters.
The actual median down payment for first-time buyers is 9%. Conventional loans start at 3% for qualified buyers. FHA loans require 3.5%. VA and USDA offer zero down for eligible buyers. And down payment assistance programs — including forgivable grants for buyers who qualify — can close the gap even further.
The math on waiting for 20% is punishing. On a $380,000 home, 20% is $76,000. At 3.5% FHA, it’s $13,300. The difference in monthly payment is real, but so is the cost of two or three more years of rent while you save for a number you don’t actually need.
Homeownership isn’t an event you wait for. It’s a process you start.
DM me DOWN PAYMENT and let’s map out exactly what it would take for you to buy.
Sources: NerdWallet 2025 Home Buyer Report (https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/studies/data-down-payment) · NAR/Amerisave 2026 Down Payment Reality Check (https://www.amerisave.com/learn/what-s-the-actual-down-payment-on-a-house-data-backed-reality-check)