Median Down Payment for U.S. Homes Fell to $23,400 in First Quarter

The median down payment required to purchase a home fell to $23,400 in the first quarter of 2026, a 19 percent decline from the same period a year earlier. The average down payment share of the purchase price fell to 12.8 percent, down 1.2 percentage points from the prior year.

Active listings increased year-over-year for the 28th consecutive month in April 2026. Median time on the market reached 52 days. Rising inventory and slower price growth have given buyers additional negotiating leverage, according to Realtor.com Senior Economic Research Analyst Hannah Jones.

Government-backed loans requiring little or no down payment now represent more than one-third of purchase mortgages. The share of such loans has remained above 24 percent for five straight quarters. Real estate agent Casey TeVault stated that clients regularly purchase homes without large down payments.