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- Homebuyers are making smaller upfront payments as the housing market stabilizes.
- The direction of mortgage rates will likely influence future down payment trends.
- Here are 10 regions where down payments have decreased most significantly over the past year.
Down payments across the United States have seen a decline, marking a small win for prospective homeowners.
According to a recent report from Realtor.com, the median upfront payment for homes in Q3 dropped to $30,300, which is $2,400 less than the previous quarter’s peak of $32,700. This amount represents approximately 9% of the total price for a typical home—an increase from around 5% that had been stable for much of the last decade. Note that this figure excludes second homes.
The average down payment was skewed by high-end properties in Q3, averaging about $85,400 or 14.5% of total sale prices. Hannah Jones, an economic researcher at Realtor.com, noted that buyers previously contributed about 14.9% during April through June.
This slight reduction indicates a cooling trend in the US housing market. According to Jones, lower down payments reflect diminished competition among buyers who no longer need to offer substantial sums upfront to entice sellers.
Despite these reductions, current down payment amounts remain historically elevated; it remains uncertain whether they will continue to decrease or if this is merely part of seasonal fluctuations typical during slower periods in real estate transactions.
“It’s premature to conclude whether this marks an ongoing downward trend in down payments or simply reflects seasonal adjustments influenced by current housing market conditions,” Jones stated.
The Impact of Borrowing Costs and Savings Rates on Down Payments
No discussion regarding down payments would be complete without addressing mortgage rates directly.
The fixed-rate mortgage for 30 years reached its highest level in two decades at 7.8% last October but has gradually decreased over most of the past year. Borrowing costs fell from approximately 7% early in Q3 to around 6.4%, responding positively to significant rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Lower interest rates alleviate pressure on buyers regarding large upfront costs; thus we may see continued subdued levels for down payments as long as this easing cycle persists.
“This trend is expected to carry into 2025 and could lead further reductions in required down payments if homebuyers wait for even lower mortgage rates anticipated by many consumers,” Jones explained while cautioning that increased buyer competition could arise if affordability improves due to falling rates once again.”
A surge in available listings means buyers are not engaging in bidding wars like they did back in 2021; more inventory helps keep both competition and required initial investments low according to Jones’ analysis: “Inventory levels are rising such that any increase in demand hasn’t yet translated into heightened competition.”
However, there’s another perspective on declining down payment amounts: some buyers simply cannot afford higher contributions due primarily to financial constraints.
The personal savings rate stood at just 4.8% as reported by Realtor.com, up from an inflation-driven low point of only 2% recorded back in June 2022 but still below pre-pandemic averages (around six-and-a-half percent) and even below January figures (5.5%). “A reduced savings rate over recent years indicates challenges ahead when it comes time for potential homeowners looking towards larger deposits,” said Jones while noting however:
Down payment sizes remain roughly double what they were prior pandemic times.”
Top Ten Regions with Decreased Down Payments
Evidently varying significantly across different areas within states and cities—down payment requirements differ widely based on local markets’ pricing dynamics.
High-priced real estate markets particularly located within Northeastern states tend toward higher initial investment needs whereas more affordable Southern locales exhibit contrasting trends.
“Post-pandemic hotspots such as Texas Florida Montana have experienced notable softening recently driven largely by diminishing demand coupled with increasing inventory affecting property values thereby reducing overall competitiveness,” remarked Jones.”
For those seeking properties requiring less hefty initial outlays look no further! In their latest report, Realtor.com identified states—including Washington D.C.—where year-over-year declines were most pronounced during Q3.
Below follows these ten locations alongside median deposit figures comparing third quarters between both years along with percentage drops dollar-wise contrasted against national averages:
< p >< strong >< span >Median Down Payment In Q3 Of ’23::$35K< / span >
< p >< strong >< span >Decline In Down Payment::24%;$8500< / span >
< p >< strong >< span >Savings Compared To Median:< / span >/strong>$3300
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benedek/Getty Images
benedek/Getty Images
Median Down Payment in Q3 2024:$25,200.
Median Down Payment in Q3 2023:$32,400.
Decrease in Down Payments:< b>-22.3%; a drop of $7,200.
< b style='font-weight: bold;' >Savings Compared to Median Income: -$5,100.
< / div >
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Trends in Down Payments for Q3 2024
Current Median Down Payment: $21,400
Previous Year’s Median Down Payment (Q3 2023): $24,600
Change in Down Payments: A decrease of 12.9%, equating to a reduction of $3,200.
Savings Compared to the Median: Homebuyers are saving an average of $8,900.
Read the full article on
Business Insider.
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