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Down Payment Requirements For A First-Time Homebuyer

As a first-time homebuyer, you have several loan program options when it comes to financing your home purchase. The down payment requirements for a first-time homebuyer will differ from program to program.

The idea of the traditional 20% down payment for a first-time homebuyer (FTHB) went away years ago as home prices moved higher in the early 2000s. Even after home prices declined after 2008, it was still very difficult for buyers to come up with the traditional 20% in most urban cities.

Things have changed in recent years, and currently, there are many different options for first-time homebuyers when it comes to down payments. This includes setting up a down payment savings plan, gifts from family members, local city or county assistance, and in some cases, there are gifts of equity.

FHA loan program down payment options

The FHA home loan program is probably one of the more popular loan programs for first-time homebuyers. The reason is that the program allows for a low down payment even if your credit is less than perfect, while other loan programs require better credit scores.

Minimum Down Payment

The minimum down payment for an FHA loan is 3.5% of the purchase price.

In some California counties, the FHA loan limit is $1,089,300, but for the most part, the loan limit for most counties is $472,030 (as of 2023). So, if you purchase a home for $343,792, you could put down 3.5% ($12,032), and your loan amount would be $331,759 even if you had a 620 credit score.

Even though FHA allows for sub-620 credit scores, some lenders won’t go below a 620 credit score. The foreclosure rate is much higher for those below 620, and some lenders find it too risky for them. If you think your credit score is below 620, make sure you tell the loan officer so that he or she can advise what their current guidelines are for loans with a credit score below 620.

Mortgage Insurance

The 3.5% down loan program has a Mortgage Insurance (MI) policy, which is added to the monthly mortgage payment. The homeowner pays this insurance to the mortgage company each month in case you default on the mortgage. It does not cover damage to your home; that insurance policy is called your Homeowner’s Insurance (which covers damages to the home).

Impounds

The FHA loan program requires you to impound your property taxes and insurance with your monthly mortgage payment, commonly referred to as “escrows. ” This is a great way to have these two items taken care of rather than coming up with a lump sum every year.

When you close your loan, an amount is placed into an escrow account, which you pay into each month. When your property taxes are due, the payment comes from that account, and when your homeowner’s insurance is due, the payment comes from the escrow account.

Having an impound account is required; there is no way to get an exception on that.

Gift Funds For Your Down Payment

You may not have the funds for a down payment, but maybe a relative can provide the 3.5% down payment. If so, you are good to go with FHA’s 3.5% down payment loan program. The key here is that the person giving the gift must be a close relative (mother, father, sibling, etc.), and they must sign a letter saying the funds are a gift and that they do not expect any payment in return.

Local City Or County Assistance

The FHA loan program allows for certain types of local or county assistance (commonly called Down Payment Assistance programs). Usually, it’s in the form of a grant, and the gift comes with certain requirements. Check with your local and county government to see what options they have.

Conventional loan down payment options

Conventional loans are another way for first-time homebuyers to purchase a property with very little down. The most popular Conventional program is the Conforming home loan. Two additional Conventional programs are Jumbo home loans and the Bank Statement Mortgage program.

If you have a strong credit history, this might be your better option.

Minimum Down Payment

For some Conventional loan programs (specifically, Conforming Loans), you only need 3.00% down.

You must have good to excellent credit; in some cases, you may need to show some liquid assets as cash reserves. The program has tighter underwriting guidelines.

Private Mortgage Insurance

Like its FHA counterpart, Conventional loans with an 80.01%  or higher loan-to-value ratio (meaning you are borrowing more than 80% of the property’s value) come with Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

What is different is that PMI is usually lower than MI. So if you do qualify for a Conventional loan as a first-time home buyer, then you not only can put less down, but you’ll also save on your monthly Mortgage Insurance expenses.

One more thing: you can get rid of PMI once there is enough equity in the home. That is not something you can do with the FHA home loan program. If you want to get rid of FHA Mortgage Insurance, you need to either sell the home or refinance into a Conventional loan program. Or if you put down 10% and wait eleven years, you can get rid of FHA MI.

Gift Funds For Your Down Payment

The gift fund option is available to those securing a Conventional loan, and it works the same way. A close relative provides the funds for the down payment and signs a letter saying the funds are a gift and that they do not expect any payment in return.

Local City Or County Assistance

Conventional loans also offer Down Payment Assistance if you qualify. Some of these programs require lengthy approval processes and strict income limits.

VA home loan down payment options

The VA home loan program is great because you do not need a down payment. While a down payment will help you lower your payment, it’s not required if you apply for a VA home loan.

Bottom line on FTHB down payments

As you can see, first-time homebuyers have many different down payment options. Be sure to discuss these options with your loan officer so they can answer any questions you may have.

Loan Officer Kevin O'Connor

About The Author

Loan Officer Kevin O'Connor has over 17 years of experience as a Mortgage Loan Originator and is a trusted resource for mortgage education and information. He's the content creator of K.O. Home Loan Solutions and is licensed by the state of California and the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System. He has a top rating with the Better Business Bureau, Google, Yelp, and Zillow. You can contact him at 1-800-550-5538. CA DRE #01499872 / NMLS #247447