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How much do I need for a down payment when buying a home?

By
Mortgage and Lending with Cambria Mortgage NMLS 274132

How much do I need for down payment when buying a home is a super common question, especially for first time home buyers.

Unfortunately, there is no quick answer, as it varies based on many factors including loan type, property type, and credit scores. The easiest answer for most people is to not try figuring it out on your own, and to simply connect with a Cambria Mortgage Loan Officer to quickly review your personal situation, to get your personal answer.

Basic down payment options include:

  • Zero down payment for VA loans for our military personal, and for USDA rural housing loans.
  • Standard conventional 30-yr fixed rate loans start at just 3% down, but you get better deals with bigger down payments.
  • FHA loans start at just 3.50% down payment.
  • Popular Minnesota down payment assistance loan require you to put no less than $1,000 down payment.
  • Typical investment property loans start with 20% down, and 2nd homes start at 10% down.
  • Jumbo loans (over $548,250 in most areas) are very hard to find with less than 20% down payment

Ready to get started? Simply call our Mortgage Loan Experts at (651) 552-3681, of APPLY ONLINE 

About Cambria Mortgage

Owned and operated by the family that provides luxury natural quartz surfaces, Cambria Mortgage is committed to the same standards of service, quality and integrity. A family-owned business in Minnesota, Cambria is the leading producer of quartz surfaces in North America. Cambria Mortgage is headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN. As a full service mortgage company, they offer a wide array of products, including Conventional, FHA loansVA loansRural Development loans, and even Non-QM loans, like asset based loans, or bank statements for income proof loans for the self-employed.  For more information, contact us.

NMLS 274132 -  - Equal Housing Lender - Serving MN, WI, IA, ND, SD. Not an offer to enter into an interest rate lock agreement

Comments(2)

Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

loans with no PMI (which is wasting money) are 20% down and that's what I encourage my buyers to do.  And mostly in my market of second homes it's never a problem.

Jun 17, 2021 09:51 AM
Joe Metzler

It's great if you can easily get to at least 20% down, but huge numbers of people can't.  Therefore PMI is a necessary evil.  It is necessary if you don't put down 20% to get the loan, and it is sort of evil, because you have to pay for it.


With that said, PMI is dramatically different these days in cost than it was just a few years ago, and there is a lot of very old misinformation about PMI floating arond. Everytime I ask someone to estimate how much PMI will be for them, they are always way off, and always way too high.


Homebuyers putting 5%, 10%, or even 15% down with good credit are often shocked at how little PMI can be, and how fast it can go away.


Because of this, PMI is a great tool and great choice for many people, as it may be very difficult to reach the magic 20% down.

Jun 17, 2021 12:47 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great information....Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!

Jun 29, 2021 07:41 AM