05/26/2026
🏡 Good information for both buyers and sellers as today’s market continues to shift.
Southern Buyers Putting Less Down on Homes
A new report from Realtor.com shows homebuyers in the South are making smaller down payments than buyers in other parts of the country — largely because home prices are still generally lower across many Southern markets.
Here’s the breakdown for the first quarter of 2026:
• South: 13.4% average down payment
• Midwest: 15.6%
• West: 16.5%
• Northeast: 17.8%
Nationally, the typical buyer put down about 14.4%, or roughly $30,250.
The report also notes that housing competition has started easing in many Southern markets, including Florida, as inventory improves compared to the intense pandemic years.
That could give financed buyers a little more breathing room without needing huge cash reserves or aggressive bidding wars to compete.
However, even with smaller down payments, higher mortgage rates are still keeping monthly costs challenging for many buyers.
Source: Realtor.com / Florida Realtors®