Solve a Problem
How Much Should I Put Down?
There's no universal right answer — 5%, 10%, and 20% down each trade cash today for payment and mortgage-insurance differences later.
The situation
Down payment size gets treated like a moral question — as if putting more down is always more responsible. In reality it's a tradeoff between cash you keep available and the monthly payment (plus mortgage insurance) you carry. The right amount depends on your reserves, your other goals for that cash, and your comfort with the resulting payment.
Questions people in this situation usually ask
- What actually changes between putting 5%, 10%, or 20% down?
- When does mortgage insurance go away, and how is it calculated?
- Is it better to put more down or keep cash in reserves?
- Are there down payment assistance programs I should look into?