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.
What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment?
What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment? If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you may be wondering how much money you need to come up with for your down payment. Many people may think it’s 20% of the loan to secure a mortgage. While there are plenty of...
Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?
Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?If you’re looking for a home to purchase right now and having trouble finding one, you’re not alone. At a time like this when there are so few houses for sale, it’s normal to wonder if you’ll actually find one to buy....
Question ? How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have?
How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have? The housing market has been scorching hot over the last twelve months. Buyers and their high demand have far outnumbered sellers and a short supply of houses. According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from...
Where Have All the Houses Gone?
Where Have All the Houses Gone?In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time...
Homeowners Today Have Tremendous Equity
You may have more home equity today than you realize. Let's connect to plan how you can leverage that equity in your next move.
3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life
3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past...
Why It’s Easy to Fall in Love with Homeownership
Why It’s Easy to Fall in Love with Homeownership Some Highlights Homeownership provides comfort, stability, and security, and it makes you feel more connected to your community. Your home is something to be proud of and is uniquely yours, so you can customize it to...
4 Ways Your Agent Will Steal Your Heart
What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You
What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry,...
What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans?
What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans? Contact us for help! According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as...