Key takeaways

Down payment amounts range from less than $10,000 to $200,000 or more, depending on the type of loan and property’s sale price.

Most housing market data focuses on the median down payment, rather than the average, because it’s a better measure of what the typical borrower contributes.

In 2025, the median down payment on a home in the U.S. was 19% of the purchase price — but for first-time buyers specifically, it was just 10%, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

NAR also found that the typical down payment of first-time buyers is the largest in decades, even as their share of the market has shrunk to a record low.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, traditional advice recommends a 20% down payment . This is a guideline, not a requirement. Most mortgage lenders will accept smaller down payments, and many buyers — especially first-timers — put down less.

But a smaller down payment can come with trade-offs like higher monthly payments and mortgage insurance.…