🏡 How to Save for a Home Down Payment

How Much Do You Actually Need?

The "20% down" rule eliminates PMI and reduces monthly payments, but it's not mandatory:

• Conventional loans: 3%–5% down with PMI
• FHA loans: 3.5% with credit scores above 580
• VA loans: 0% down for eligible veterans
• USDA loans: 0% down in rural areas

On a $350,000 home:

• 3% down: $10,500 — achievable in 1–2 years for many
• 10% down: $35,000 — 3–5 years for moderate savers
• 20% down: $70,000 — 5–10 years for most buyers

Where to Keep the Down Payment Fund

A down payment being saved over 1–3 years should be in a high-yield savings account or short-term CDs — not in the stock market. Market volatility in 2022 wiped out significant savings for people who had their down payment in index funds when they needed it.

High-yield savings accounts currently offer 4%–5% APY, virtually risk-free and FDIC insured. This is the appropriate vehicle for a medium-term, large-dollar goal.

Accelerating the Timeline

Strategies to reach your goal faster:

• Automate a dedicated "house fund" transfer on every payday
• Direct all windfalls (bonuses, tax refunds, inheritances) to the fund
• Consider house hacking: buy a multi-unit property, live in one unit, rent the others to cover the mortgage
• Look into first-time homebuyer programs — many states offer down payment assistance, matching funds, or low-rate second mortgages
• Some 401(k) plans allow first-time homebuyer withdrawals; weigh this carefully given tax and opportunity costs

Using a Savings Goal Calculator

Once you know your target down payment amount and timeline, a savings goal calculator tells you exactly how much to save per month. It also shows the interest earned on your growing fund, which can meaningfully shorten the timeline.

Example: Saving $40,000 with $5,000 already saved at 4.5% APY:

• $500/month → ~5.5 years
• $750/month → ~3.7 years
• $1,000/month → ~2.9 years

The math is simple. Choosing the monthly amount is the hard part.

The PMI Trade-Off

PMI typically costs 0.5%–1.5% of the loan per year. On a $280,000 loan, that's $1,400–$4,200/year or $116–$350/month. But PMI disappears once you reach 20% equity.

Sometimes it makes more sense to buy with 10% down and pay PMI than to wait 3 more years to save 20% — especially in rising markets where delaying means buying at a higher price.