How Quickly Can You Save Your Down Payment?
Saving for a down payment is often the biggest hurdle for a first-time homebuyer. Depending on where you live, median income, median rents, and home prices all vary. So, we set out to find out how long it would take to save for a down payment in each state.
Using data from HUD, Census and Apartment List, we determined how long it would take, nationwide, for a first-time buyer to save enough money for a down payment on their dream home. There is a long-standing ‘rule’ that a household should not pay more than 28% of their income on their monthly housing expense.
By determining the percentage of income spent renting in each state, and the amount needed for a 10% down payment, we were able to establish how long (in years) it would take for an average resident to save enough money to buy a home of their own.
According to the data, residents in Kansas can save for a down payment the quickest, doing so in just over 1 year (1.12). Below is a map that was created using the data for each state:
What if you only needed to save 3%?
What if you were able to take advantage of one of Freddie Mac’s or Fannie Mae’s 3%-down programs? Suddenly, saving for a down payment no longer takes 2 to 5 years, but becomes possible in less than a year in most states, as shown on the map below.
Bottom Line
Whether you have just begun to save for a down payment or have been saving for years, you may be closer to your dream home than you think! Let’s get together to help you evaluate your ability to buy today.
A Day When Americans Can Return to Work
A Day When Americans Can Return to WorkSome HighlightsTaking a moment to reflect upon what we’ve heard from historical leaders can teach us a lot about getting through the many challenges we face today.We're all eager for the day when every American can safely return...
Unemployment: Hope on the Horizon
Unemployment: Hope on the HorizonTomorrow, the unemployment rate for April 2020 will be released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will hit a peak this country has never seen before, with data representing real families and lives affected by this economic...
Caremongering Spreads Goodness, Not Fear
Caremongering Spreads Goodness, Not Fear As news of Covid-19 started gearing up, Allison Bradley felt heartbroken when she spotted seniors running errands and grocery shopping around her town, Kelowna, B.C. “My goodness, you are risking so much by being out here. It’s...
Why Home Equity Is a Bright Spark in the Housing Market
Why Home Equity Is a Bright Spark in the Housing MarketGiven how we have seen more unemployment claims than ever before over the past several weeks, fear is spreading widely. Some good news, however, shows that more than 4 million initial unemployment filers have...
More Temporary Bumps in the Road to Recovery
We know there are bumps in the road when it comes to today’s economy and the housing market, and that’s to be expected under the current conditions. The good news is, experts are forecasting that home prices will continue to rise. DM me to discuss your plans in this...
Confused About the Economic Recovery? Here’s Why.
Confused About the Economic Recovery? Here’s Why.As we continue to work through the health crisis that plagues this country, more and more conversations are turning to economic recovery. While we look for signs that we’ve reached a plateau in cases of COVID-19, the...
U.S. Homeownership Rate Rises to Highest Point in 8 Years
U.S. Homeownership Rate Rises to Highest Point in 8 YearsFor nearly two months, most of us have been following strict stay-at-home orders from our state and local governments. It is a whole new way of life that has put our daily lives on pause. On the other hand, many...
The 3 Sciences That Are Driving Today’s Expert Economic Projections
Why the Housing Market Is a Powerful Economic Driver?
Why the Housing Market Is a Powerful Economic Driver?With businesses starting to slowly open back up again in some parts of the country, it’s important to understand how housing can have a major impact on the recovery of the U.S. economy. As we’ve mentioned...
Buying a Home Right Now: Easy? No. Smart? Yes.
Buying a Home Right Now: Easy? No. Smart? Yes.Through all the volatility in the economy right now, some have put their search for a home on hold, yet others have not. According to ShowingTime, the real estate industry's leading showing management technology provider,...