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Which down payment strategy is right for you?

The article below is for real estate professionals to use on their own blog or website copyright free.

You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders.

But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as three percent—rather than parting with so much cash up front, even if you have the money available.

THE DOWNSIDE

The downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you’ll pay. You’ll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20-percent down payment, which will eliminate some homes from your search.

THE UPSIDE

The national average for home appreciation is about five percent. The appreciation is independent from your home payment, so whether you put down 20 percent or three percent, the increase in equity is the same. If you’re looking at your home as an investment, putting down a smaller amount can lead to a higher return on investment, while also leaving more of your savings free for home repairs, upgrades, or other investment opportunities.

THE HAPPY MEDIUM

Of course, your home payment options aren’t binary. Most borrowers can find some common ground between the security of a traditional 20 percent and an investment-focused, small down payment. Your trusted real estate professional can provide some answers as you explore your financing options.

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A guide to your advanced real estate marketing tool kit.
Click through the menu on that left to see all the incredible perks of your BB Plus membership, as well as tutorials for using them to save more time and sell more homes.
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Using MLS Lookup
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  1. Find a marketing template you love.
  2. Enter your listing’s MLS number in the left sidebar.
  3. Watch as your listing’s information and photos instantly populate the item.
  1. Double check for accuracy.
  2. Download for free, share on social media, or use our printing and shipping services.
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  3. Upload your contacts’ addresses or purchase a mailing list.
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Setting up team and two-agent branding
Market as a team.
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  2. Upload your teammate or team’s information, headshot, and logo.
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Selecting your preset brand color
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  1. Visit your BB Plus profile using the waffle icon in the top right corner.
  2. Click the Edit Primary Brand Color widget.
  3. Select your brand color with the color picker or enter the Hexcode and click Select.
  1. Moving forward, every customizable marketing template you edit will automatically load with your brand color.
Using your headshot and logo library
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  1. Visit your BB Plus profile using the waffle icon in the to pright corner.
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