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In the current real estate landscape, down payments have remained relatively stable, offering some relief to buyers as the housing market shows signs of cooling down. The average down payment in the third quarter of 2025 was 14.4%, or $30,400—up roughly $500 from the last quarter but nearly unchanged from a year ago, according to the latest quarterly report from Realtor.com®. Affordability challenges persist despite decreasing mortgage rates, with affluent buyers driving up down payments by purchasing high-end homes. Despite the challenging market conditions, buyers have maintained strong financial qualifications, with the typical FICO credit score for homebuyers remaining steady at 735, reflecting the trend towards more financially qualified buyers in response to rising home prices and mortgage rates.
FULL STORY: Down Payments Finally Stop Rising—Here’s What Homebuyers Are Paying Now
Key Takeaways
- Down payments have seen minimal fluctuations over the past two years, with a modest increase in 2025 due to a softer and steadier housing market compared to the previous year.
- Affordability challenges persist despite declining mortgage rates, with the median list price remaining high at $425,000, leading to elevated down payments.
- Sales of homes priced above $750,000 have increased, pushing up both median sale prices and down payments, as higher-priced homes require larger down payments.
- Regional disparities exist in down payment percentages, with the Northeast having the highest median down payment at nearly $63,000, while the South remains the most affordable region.
- Down payments for second homes and investment properties saw significant declines in Q3 2025, dropping to their lowest levels in three years, although they still remain substantially higher than primary residences.
This summary has been generated with AI tools and edited by Realtor.com News & Insights editors. The full story, written and edited by Realtor.com News & Insights newsroom journalists, is linked at the top of the summary.