Ideal down payments are out of reach for most buyers

Dated: July 6 2024

Views: 50

A Zillow analysis found that a median-income household in the Philadelphia region would need a down payment of more than $100,000 to afford monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced home. A down payment can lower the cost of monthly mortgage payments — but other up-front costs can be major hurdles to buying a home, especially for first-time home buyers without extra cash on hand from the equity in a previous home. Home buyers have been told to aim for at least a 20% down payment, but soaring home prices are putting that number out of reach for most, according to the Zillow report. Some buyers are spending more than their budget allows on homes, while others purchase less-than-ideal properties and some are completely priced out of the market. 
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/26/2024

Blog author image

Pete McGuinn

Pete McGuinn - Your Trusted RE/MAX Main Line Real Estate Expert With over 22 years of experience as a full-time REALTOR® at RE/MAX Main Line, Pete McGuinn is a distinguished real estate professional....

Latest Blog Posts

5 Repairs Worth Doing Before You List (and 5 That Aren't)

One of the most common questions I get from sellers: "What do I actually need to fix before we list?" Here's my honest, construction-background answer.Worth doing:Fresh, neutral paint — one of

Read More

Life Plan CCRC vs. Active Adult Community: Understanding the Difference

One of the most confusing parts of exploring 55+ options is that "55+ community" actually covers two very different models — and mixing them up can lead to real financial and lifestyle

Read More

A First-Time Buyer's Guide to Delaware County School Districts

One of the most common questions I get from first-time buyers with young kids (or plans for them) is simple: "Which school district should we be looking in?"I don't have a one-size-fits-all answer

Read More

City controller finds hundreds of property owners exploiting tax relief program

Philadelphia’s city controller says the city and school district are losing millions of dollars in revenue from people who improperly claim a homestead exemption on their taxes. The homestead

Read More