Why does down payment vary across the U.S.?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes — owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city — many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Why does down payment vary across South Carolina?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes — owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city — many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks the U.S. cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated June 2026

Top 25 nationally

#	City	State	Est. typical down payment
1	Los Angeles	CA	$108,600	View
2	San Diego	CA	$136,100	View
3	San Jose	CA	$138,400	View
4	San Francisco	CA	$143,000	View
5	Bakersfield	CA	$104,300	View
6	Long Beach	CA	$106,200	View
7	Riverside	CA	$105,400	View
8	Oakland	CA	$115,700	View
9	Anaheim	CA	$115,600	View
10	Santa Ana	CA	$109,100	View
11	Corona	CA	$128,400	View
12	Chula Vista	CA	$124,300	View
13	Fontana	CA	$104,500	View
14	Irvine	CA	$135,400	View
15	Fremont	CA	$139,700	View
16	Oxnard	CA	$111,100	View
17	Santa Rosa	CA	$111,500	View
18	Oceanside	CA	$99,700	View
19	Whittier	CA	$114,100	View
20	Huntington Beach	CA	$132,700	View
21	Salinas	CA	$113,300	View
22	Hayward	CA	$120,000	View
23	Escondido	CA	$108,600	View
24	Garden Grove	CA	$104,400	View
25	Torrance	CA	$119,600	View

By state

Top picks within each state. Click through for the full state-level ranking.

Alabama

1. Owens Cross Roads$35,800
2. Madison$35,400
3. Trussville$34,900

Full AL ranking

Alaska

1. Anchorage$60,400
2. Eagle River$59,600
3. Juneau$56,600

Full AK ranking

Arizona

1. Paradise Valley$87,500
2. Scottsdale$73,700
3. Gilbert$70,400

Full AZ ranking

Arkansas

1. Bentonville$30,100
2. Little Rock$27,800
3. Maumelle$26,400

Full AR ranking

California

1. Los Angeles$108,600
2. San Diego$136,100
3. San Jose$138,400

Full CA ranking

Colorado

1. Littleton$94,700
2. Castle Rock$94,200
3. Englewood$91,100

Full CO ranking

Connecticut

1. Westport$98,600
2. Darien$104,300
3. New Canaan$99,700

Full CT ranking

Delaware

1. Hockessin$62,300
2. Wilmington$59,600
3. Middletown$58,300

Full DE ranking

Florida

1. Key Biscayne$88,700
2. Palm Beach$82,900
3. Miami Beach$74,800

Full FL ranking

Georgia

1. Alpharetta$59,800
2. Suwanee$56,600
3. Cumming$55,300

Full GA ranking

Hawaii

1. Honolulu$135,600
2. Waipahu$130,000
3. Ewa Beach$129,700

Full HI ranking

Idaho

1. Eagle$68,600
2. Hailey$63,100
3. Boise$60,500

Full ID ranking

Illinois

1. Glencoe$66,600
2. Winnetka$64,900
3. Lake Forest$61,700

Full IL ranking

Indiana

1. Zionsville$46,100
2. Carmel$44,300
3. Granger$39,800

Full IN ranking

Iowa

1. Urbandale$36,700
2. West Des Moines$33,800
3. Bettendorf$33,700

Full IA ranking

Kansas

1. Leawood$45,000
2. Overland Park$39,600
3. Stilwell$39,400

Full KS ranking

Kentucky

1. Prospect$40,300
2. Ft Mitchell$32,500
3. Union$32,400

Full KY ranking

Louisiana

1. Mandeville$31,700
2. Madisonville$31,700
3. Prairieville$30,800

Full LA ranking

Maine

1. Cape Elizabeth$65,600
2. Falmouth$60,400
3. Yarmouth$59,800

Full ME ranking

Maryland

1. Potomac$104,900
2. Chevy Chase$95,000
3. Bethesda$94,200

Full MD ranking

Massachusetts

1. Boston$110,400
2. Cambridge$106,700
3. Brookline$112,700

Full MA ranking

Michigan

1. Bloomfield Hills$48,100
2. West Bloomfield$43,300
3. Northville$42,700

Full MI ranking

Minnesota

1. Wayzata$64,300
2. Excelsior$60,000
3. Minneapolis$56,400

Full MN ranking

Mississippi

1. Madison$29,600
2. Brandon$24,500
3. Ocean Springs$23,900

Full MS ranking

Missouri

1. Chesterfield$47,900
2. Ballwin$39,100
3. Grover$38,800

Full MO ranking

Montana

1. Billings$67,600
2. Sidney$61,700
3. Bozeman$57,700

Full MT ranking

Nebraska

1. Papillion$37,300
2. Elkhorn$37,800
3. Bennington$37,000

Full NE ranking

Nevada

1. Henderson$69,100
2. Las Vegas$67,000
3. Incline Village$66,600

Full NV ranking

New Hampshire

1. Bedford$84,700
2. Hollis$79,600
3. Windham$78,500

Full NH ranking

New Jersey

1. Morristown$97,700
2. Montclair$104,800
3. Westfield$110,900

Full NJ ranking

New Mexico

1. Los Alamos$48,100
2. Santa Fe$46,800
3. Corrales$44,500

Full NM ranking

New York

1. New York$98,000
2. Scarsdale$117,200
3. Garden City$97,600

Full NY ranking

North Carolina

1. Cary$58,600
2. Waxhaw$56,800
3. Davidson$54,800

Full NC ranking

North Dakota

1. Williston$36,500
2. Bismarck$34,800
3. West Fargo$34,200

Full ND ranking

Ohio

1. Chagrin Falls$41,300
2. Hudson$41,500
3. Powell$40,700

Full OH ranking

Oklahoma

1. Edmond$34,700
2. Broken Arrow$30,000
3. Owasso$28,700

Full OK ranking

Oregon

1. Lake Oswego$84,200
2. West Linn$78,200
3. Happy Valley$72,600

Full OR ranking

Pennsylvania

1. Villanova$67,700
2. Newtown$51,700
3. Berwyn$52,400

Full PA ranking

Puerto Rico

1. Guaynabo$35,900
2. San Juan$31,600
3. Bayamon$31,600

Full PR ranking

Rhode Island

1. Barrington$81,100
2. East Greenwich$76,800
3. Cumberland$70,300

Full RI ranking

South Carolina

1. Hilton Head Island$46,700
2. Mount Pleasant$46,000
3. Fort Mill$44,200

Full SC ranking

South Dakota

1. Sioux Falls$37,000
2. Brandon$34,800
3. Rapid City$33,100

Full SD ranking

Tennessee

1. Brentwood$60,400
2. Germantown$58,900
3. Franklin$53,800

Full TN ranking

Texas

1. Southlake$70,600
2. Bellaire$63,700
3. Colleyville$62,500

Full TX ranking

Utah

1. Park City$90,100
2. Draper$85,100
3. Sandy$84,700

Full UT ranking

Vermont

1. Williston$54,100
2. Essex Junction$51,100
3. Colchester$50,000

Full VT ranking

Virginia

1. Great Falls$101,400
2. Mc Lean$89,400
3. Fairfax Station$87,000

Full VA ranking

Washington

1. Seattle$97,900
2. Bellevue$107,500
3. Bothell$100,300

Full WA ranking

Washington D.C.

1. Washington$111,200

Full DC ranking

West Virginia

1. Scott Depot$22,400
2. Charles Town$21,700
3. Bridgeport$21,500

Full WV ranking

Wisconsin

1. Thiensville$52,000
2. Brookfield$48,500
3. Hudson$46,400

Full WI ranking

Wyoming

1. Gillette$52,800
2. Jackson$52,700
3. Rock Springs$45,800

Full WY ranking

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across the U.S.?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes — owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city — many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.