Realtor.com says saving for a down payment is still a barrier for many people looking to buy a home. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
An analysis by Realtor.com is forecasting homeownership in 2026 to be more affordable as mortgage rates decline. But saving for a down payment is still a barrier for many people looking to buy a home.
Dig deeper:
According to Realtor.com, people looking to buy a home are dealing with lower savings account rates, higher down payment requirements as home prices have surged, and competition among buyers amid scarce home inventory.
By the numbers:
In the third quarter of 2019, Relator.com says the typical buyer paid roughly $13,900 as a down payment. Six years later, the typical down payment has more than doubled to $30,400.
What they're saying:
Homeownership is a challenge in many coastal and high-cost markets, as limited inventory and high demand drive home prices and increase the down payment requirements, resulting in a lower homeownership rate compared to more affordable parts of the country.
Many Southern metros and areas with military hubs have a lower down payment barrier due to VA home loan utilization, which allows buyers to use zero-down financing, making savings primarily focused on closing costs rather than large cash down payments.
Methodology: Using the monthly personal savings rate through September 2025, annual estimated median household income, and monthly median down payment dollar amount data, Realtor.com estimated how many years it would take to save for a down payment in the US and in the 50 largest U.S. metros.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from Realtor.com. This story was reported from Orlando.