10/26/2026
Think you need 20% down to buy a home? Most first-time buyers don't put that much down. On a conventional loan, 3% or 5% down can be an option. The tradeoff is PMI, private mortgage insurance, a monthly fee that protects the lender and usually applies when you put down less than 20%. The good news is that it isn't forever. Once you build about 20% equity, you can ask your lender to remove it, and it's required to come off automatically at 22%. So the real question isn't whether you can reach 20%. It's whether the monthly payment, PMI included, fits your budget. Save this before you start house hunting, and drop your biggest down payment question in the comments. 🏡
Aaron Pearsall · NMLS #2755496
APfinity Mortgage, LLC · NMLS #2771548
Equal Housing Opportunity