The Benefits of a 20% Down Payment
Many people you talk to will tell you that you need to save 20% or you won’t be able to secure a mortgage. That is not true! Many programs are available that let you put down as little as 3%. So, why do people still think they need a 20% down payment to buy a home?
YOUR INTEREST RATE WILL BE LOWER.
Putting down a 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender/bank that you are more financially stable, thus a good credit risk. The more confident your bank is in your credit and your ability to pay your loan, the lower the rate they will be willing to give you.
YOU’LL END UP PAYING LESS FOR YOUR HOME.
The bigger your down payment, the lower you loan amount will be for your mortgage. If you are able to pay 20% of the cost of your new home at the start of the transaction, you will only pay interest on the remaining 80%. If you put down a 5% down payment, the extra 15% on your loan will accrue interest and end up costing you more in the long run!
YOUR OFFER WILL STAND OUT IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET.
In a market where many buyers are competing for the same home, sellers like to see offers come in with 20% or larger down payments. The seller gains the same confidence that the bank did above. You are seen as a stronger buyer whose financing is more likely to be approved. Therefore, the deal will be more likely to go through!
YOU WON’T HAVE TO PAY PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE (PMI)
Simply put, PMI is “an insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional loans that have down payments less than 20%.”
As we mentioned earlier, when you put down less than 20% to buy a home, your lender/bank will see your loan as having more risk. PMI helps them recover their investment in you if you are unable to pay your loan. This insurance is not required if you are able to put down 20% or more.
Many times, home sellers looking to move up to a larger or more expensive home are able to take the equity they earn from the sale of their house to put down 20% on their next home.
If you are looking to buy your first home, you will have to weigh the benefits of saving a 20% down payment vs. the time and cost of continuing to rent while you save that amount.
BOTTOM LINE
If your plan for your future includes buying a home and you’re already saving for your down payment, meet with a local lending professional who can help you decide the down payment size that best fits with your long-term plan!