{
  "slug": "how-much-down-payment-do-i-need",
  "title": "How Much Down Payment Do I Need?",
  "heading": "How Much Down Payment Do I Need?",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-down-payment-do-i-need",
  "summary": "For a $350,000 home with a 20% down payment goal, you need $70,000 down to avoid PMI.",
  "description": "Down payment requirements vary by loan type and your goal — conventional loans typically require 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance, FHA loans allow as little as 3.5%, and this calculator computes your dollar down payment target and resulting loan amount for any percentage you choose.",
  "formula": "Down Payment = Home Price × Down Payment %. Loan Amount = Home Price − Down Payment.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=how-much-down-payment-do-i-need",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Home price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 350000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "downPct",
      "label": "Down payment target",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "20",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "3.5",
          "label": "3.5% (FHA minimum)"
        },
        {
          "value": "5",
          "label": "5%"
        },
        {
          "value": "10",
          "label": "10%"
        },
        {
          "value": "20",
          "label": "20% (avoids PMI)"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "downPayment",
      "label": "Down payment needed",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "loanAmount",
      "label": "Resulting loan amount",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Home price: 350000 $",
      "Down payment target: 20% (avoids PMI)"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Down payment needed: $70,000",
      "Resulting loan amount: $280,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter home price ($).",
      "Enter down payment target.",
      "Read your down payment needed on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "price": 210000,
        "downPct": "20"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "price": 350000,
        "downPct": "20"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "price": 560000,
        "downPct": "20"
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How much down payment do I need?",
      "a": "For a $350,000 home at the standard 20% target, you need $70,000 down, leaving a $280,000 loan and avoiding private mortgage insurance (PMI) entirely."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I have to put 20% down?",
      "a": "No — conventional loans allow as little as 3-5% down and FHA loans allow 3.5%, but anything under 20% on a conventional loan usually triggers PMI, an added monthly cost until you reach 20% equity."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much does 5% vs 20% down change my loan?",
      "a": "On a $350,000 home, 5% down is $17,500 (leaving a $332,500 loan) versus 20% down at $70,000 (leaving $280,000) — a $52,500 difference in loan size that also raises your monthly payment and total interest."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does a bigger down payment always make sense?",
      "a": "Not always — if your investment returns elsewhere exceed your mortgage rate, keeping cash invested instead of maxing your down payment can be the better financial move, though it does mean carrying PMI or a larger loan."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-house-can-i-afford",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-will-my-car-payment-be"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — How Much Down Payment Do I Need? (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-down-payment-do-i-need)"
}