Down Payments Remain High But Stable
Despite fluctuating home prices over the last few years, typical down payments remain stable. In Q-3 2025, median down payments held at 14.4% of a home's price, or $30,400, according to a report from housing market platform Realtor.com. Compared with the prior quarter, the median down payment is about $500 higher than in Q-2, but is unchanged from a year ago.
While down payments have stabilized, they are still much higher than they were prior to the pandemic housing boom
Since 2019, rising home prices have caused down payments to increase. In Q-2 2019, the typical down payment was just $13,900, meaning that burden has grown by 117.9% over the past six years, whereas home prices grew by about 44.7% in that time period.
Where are down payments the highest?
Down payments tend to be the highest in markets where buyers have to compete. In the Northeast—which has recorded lower for-sale inventory in recent years—down payments were the highest. In Q-3 2025, the typical down payment in the Northeast was 18.2%, followed by the West at 16.3%, the Midwest at 14.5%, and then the South at 12.5%.
Down payments are likely to remain steady over the next several quarters
While the years from 2019 to 2025 saw substantial growth in the median down payment and percentage of the purchase price, Realtor.com suggests down payments will remain steady over the next few years. The housing market will likely continue to see sluggish activity until homes become more affordable, which could happen if mortgage rates go down, according to the platform.
Although down payments have stabilized, they are still a major financial barrier for many prospective homebuyers
- Affordability Concerns Continue to Keep Generation Z Out of the Housing Market: Saving for a down payment is especially challenging for the youngest generation of buyers.
- Nearly Half of Young People Need Help to Afford a Home: With housing costs on the rise, prospective buyers are relying on family assistance to save for a down payment.