How to grow home down payment savings, top-ranked advisors say

Saving for a home down payment can feel challenging, given current real estate prices. Using the right assets can help give your balance a lift.

When you actually need the money is the “biggest driving factor,” said Ryan Dennehy, principal and financial advisor at California Financial Advisors in San Ramon, California. The firm ranked No. 13 on the 2024 CNBC FA 100 list.

“Do you need the money six months from now, or do you need the money six years from now?” he said.

That timing matters because financial advisors generally recommend keeping money for short-term goals out of the market. There can be more flexibility for intermediate-term goals of three to five years, but it’s still wise to prioritize protecting your balance. After all, you don’t want a bad day in the market to impact your ability to put in an offer on a home.

But that doesn’t mean your down payment funds need to sit in a basic savings account, either.

Here’s how to figure out how much money you might need, and some of the options for safely growing your balance:

Understanding how much money you might need can help you better gauge your timeline and the appropriate assets for your down payment.

As of the second quarter of the year, the median sales price of U.S. homes is $412,300, according to the U.S. Census via the Federal Reserve. That is down from $426,800 in the first quarter, and from the peak-high of $442,600 in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Fed reports.

So, for example, if a homebuyer is looking to put a 20% down payment on a $400,000 house, they might need to save about $80,000, said certified financial planner Shaun Williams, private wealth advisor and partner at Paragon Capital Management in Denver. The firm ranks No. 38 on the FA 100.

Of course, a 20% down payment may be traditional, but it’s not mandatory. Some loans require as little as 5%, 3% or no down payment at all. Down payment assistance programs can also cover some of the tab.

In 2023, the average down payment was around 15%, with first-time buyers typically putting down closer to 8% and repeat buyers putting down around 19%, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Just be aware that if you put down less than 20%, the lender may require you to buy private mortgage insurance. PMI can cost anywhere from 0.5% to 1.5% of the loan amount per year, depending on factors like your credit score and down payment, according to The Mortgage Reports.