The Average Down Payment Buyers Are Making Right Now—And How Yours Compares

Down payments are getting weird—and your savings might already be obsolete.

Forget the 20% rule. That textbook advice got shredded years ago. Today's buyers are playing a different game entirely, one where the old benchmarks feel like relics from a pre-digital age.

What's the new normal?

The numbers tell a stark story. The average down payment has shifted dramatically, creating a new baseline that separates the prepared from the priced-out. It's not just about saving more; it's about saving smarter and faster than the market moves.

How does your stack measure up?

Comparing your savings to the current average is more than a reality check—it's a strategic necessity. Falling short doesn't just mean a higher monthly payment; it can mean missing the deal altogether in a competitive landscape. This gap defines who gets the keys and who gets left watching from the sidelines.

The traditional finance playbook is failing.

Relying on slow, legacy savings methods is a surefire way to fall behind. The system wasn't built for this pace. It's almost as if the old guard designed it to keep you just a step behind—convenient for them, costly for you.

Time to bypass the gatekeepers.

The new wave isn't waiting for permission or traditional approval. They're leveraging every tool, every asset, and every non-traditional avenue to build their stake. It's a mindset shift from saving what's left over to actively constructing your entry ticket.

Your move.

The market won't pause for anyone. The average isn't a target; it's a signal. Adapt your strategy, accelerate your timeline, or get ready to compare your savings to a number that's already moved again.

Key Takeaways

• The average down payment for 2024–25 buyers hit 19%, the highest in more than three decades.
• First-time buyers typically put down about 10%, while repeat buyers averaged 23%, according to the National Association of Realtors.
• If you can manage to put 20% down, it will allow you to skip PMI, potentially saving hundreds each month and thousands over time.

Where Down Payments Stand Now

Buying a home today takes more cash up front than at any point in decades. Down payments have kept climbing while borrowing costs have remained high. For homebuyers between July 2024 and June 2025, the average down payment equaled about 19% of the purchase price, according to the National Association of Realtors.

That’s the highest share in more than 30 years—it's roughly double what buyers were putting down in the years after the housing crash of 2008–09 and notably higher than the 12% average seen just before the pandemic in 2020.

Down payments have climbed steadily over the past decade, a sign that today’s buyers tend to be better-resourced or equity-rich. A 19% down payment works out to roughly $82,300 on the median U.S. home price of $433,200.

Why This Matters to You

Seeing what other buyers are putting down can help you gauge where you stand. The amount you’re able to put down can shape your budget for years to come, affecting both what you can afford now and how much equity you build later.

How Down Payments Differ for First-Time and Repeat Buyers

Unsurprisingly, first-time and repeat buyers put down very different amounts. While the average down payment across all 2024–25 buyers was 19%, first-time buyers typically put down about 10%. That's roughly roughly $82,300 and $43,300 on a median-priced home of $433,200, respectively. Repeat buyers, in contrast, averaged 23%, or about $99,600.

That difference makes sense given how buyers fund their purchases. First-time buyers often rely on savings, investments, gifts, or down payment assistance programs, while repeat buyers typically use proceeds from a previous sale. Having built equity over time gives repeat buyers more flexibility and larger cash reserves, which naturally leads to higher down payments.

Why Paying 20% Down Can Save You Thousands

With today’s high home prices and mortgage costs that can stretch a buyer’s future budget, it’s understandable that many first-time buyers struggle to reach a 20% down payment. If you can comfortably afford the monthly mortgage payment with less money down—and the right house comes along—it can still make sense to go ahead and buy.

But waiting until you can put 20% down can ultimately make a big difference in affordability. Hitting that mark lets you avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI), which applies to loans with smaller down payments and can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly bill.

Let’s do the math: Buying a home at the current median price of $433,200 with a 10% down payment WOULD leave a loan balance of about $389,900. Assuming a 1% PMI, that adds roughly $3,900 a year—$325 a month—on top of your mortgage payment. Over five years, that’s more than $19,500. This money that doesn’t build equity—it simply insures the loan for your lender.

Related Education

Smart Ways To Grow Your Down Payment Before You Buy

If you’re working to boost your down payment—maybe even enough to reach that 20% mark and avoid PMI—there are smart ways to make your savings grow while you save. Automating deposits into a separate high-yield savings account can ensure your down payment money keeps increasing, while locking in a competitive certificate of deposit (CD) can help your money grow at a guaranteed rate for months or years into the future.

If you’re planning to buy soon, compare today’s best high-yield savings accounts to earn a strong return while keeping your cash accessible. But if you’ll be saving for longer, consider adding a top nationwide CD to lock in a guaranteed rate for your down payment funds.