The ‘Typical’ Down Payment for a Median-Priced Home in Seattle in 2024: Analysis

Published:
August 2, 2018
Last updated:
January 5, 2024
Post cover image
In This Article

How much is the typical down payment amount for a home purchase in Seattle? We’ve crunched the numbers to help you determine how much you need to secure a mortgage in 2024.

Unless you are qualified to take out a VA loan, a down payment will be required to secure a mortgage to buy a home in Seattle. The question is, how much of a down payment do you need to make for an average-price home in the city?

“How much do I have to put down when buying a home?”

This is one of the most common questions among home buyers, especially in relatively high-priced housing markets like Seattle.

A down payment is required when you take out a mortgage to buy a home. It goes towards the purchase price of your home. The amount you must put down will depend on a variety of factors, including what you pay for the home and the type of mortgage you are taking out.

The higher your down payment amount, the less you will have to borrow. This places less risk on the lender, who may be willing to give you a lower interest rate as a result. In turn, this can save you a lot of money over the life of your loan.

But that doesn’t mean you have to sink in a lot of money on a down payment. Today, we’ll run some numbers to figure out what the typical down payment would be in Seattle, Washington for different loan types.

Down Payment Mortgages Seattle: 2024

According to a recent analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions, the median down payment among home buyers in the U.S. is somewhere around 6.6% of the purchase price.

It’s possible to put down less than that. Some mortgage programs allow for down payments in the 3% range. For instance, the Conventional 97 program available from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allows for a 3% down payment. For many buyers, that’s even less expensive than the FHA loan option, which allows for a 3.5% down payment for those who qualify.

And for military folks, the VA allows for a zero down payment option, Which means no down payment is required to take out a home loan to buy a home in Seattle or anywhere else in the US.

But we’re trying to determine the typical or average down payment in Seattle, so the 6.6% median figure is a good place to start.

Related: Low down payment mortgage loans

Down payment percentages are based on the home price. So, a more expensive property will result in a larger upfront investment, with all other things being equal. But for the sake of this analysis, let’s stick with the “median” theme for house values. At the end of the day, down payment mortgages Seattle can come in many amounts, depending on what you’re most comfortable with.

According to Zillow, the median home value in Seattle was around $824,264 as of January 2024. That’s the number we’ll use for calculating the average or “typical” down payment among Seattle home buyers.

  • So, we have a median upfront investment of 6.6% and an average home price of $824,264.
  • Given those numbers, the typical down payment for Seattle home buyers in the current market would come to around $32,056.
  • The minimum investment for a conventional loan (3%) on an average-priced home would come to around $14,571.

Borrowers using an FHA loan with a minimum down payment of 3.5% would need to come up with $29,291 to purchase a median-priced home.

Clearly, there are a lot of variables that go into the mix. So, the closest we can come to an average down payment for a typical home purchase in Seattle is somewhere around $32,056. as of near the end of 2024. But some borrowers put down much less than that by using a mortgage program with a lower investment requirement.

Today’s Seattle Mortgage Rates

Gift Money: The ‘Friends and Family Plan

Did you know it’s possible to use gift money from a family member or close friend to help cover your down payment expense? It’s true. Most of the major mortgage loan products available today allow borrowers to use funds gifted from an approved third party.

This kind of strategy is especially helpful in higher-priced real estate markets like Seattle, where a lot of buyers need down payment help to make a purchase.

In order to use gifted funds for a down payment, The lender will want to know some details before they let you use gifted funds for a down payment. You will likely need to prove that you have a relationship to the person giving you the money.

The lender may also require a paper trail to verify that the money is actually a gift and not coming from a nefarious source.

Meanwhile, Home Prices May Rise

Another common question among Seattle home buyers is: Should I buy now or wait a while? What’s the best time to make a purchase?

Interestingly, home prices in Seattle have dipped over the past year. Typically, home prices increase over time, but there are the odds blips where prices may dip from time to time.

Nevertheless the latest forecasts for the Seattle-area real estate market predict that home prices may rise over the coming months. And although mortgage rates have been increasing, they may finally start to cool and dip over the coming months.

So those home buyers who postpone their purchases might end up encountering higher housing costs if prices change gears and start increasing again. If you get in the market early enough, you will be able to ride the wave of appreciation and take advantage of an increase in home equity. This is a great way to build wealth over time, and has long been a tried and true investment tactic.

Are you Ready to Take Out a Mortgage in Seattle?

Median and average down payment data are useful from a market analysis perspective. But they’re not as helpful for individual borrowers. At Sammamish Mortgage, can help you secure a mortgage program, as we have been doing since 1992 in Washington, Colorado, California, Idaho, and Oregon. We currently lend in all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado. Please contact us if you’d like to know what your down payment might be when buying a house.

Other Blogs You May Like
Home Buyers in Washington & Nationwide Put Down Less Than 20%
February 7, 2024
4 min read
Home Buyers in Washington & Nationwide Put Down Less Than 20%
Recent Study Found That 52% of Home Buyers in the WA State and U.s. Make Down Payments of Less Than...
California’s Average Down Payment in 2024: The Latest Insights
January 26, 2024
7 min read
California's Average Down Payment in 2024: The Latest Insights
It's widely known that California has some of the highest home prices of any state in the nation....
Show 43 more posts
from this category

Connect with a Mortgage Advisor Today!

Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.

Compare Mortgage Rates in Your Area Instantly

No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.

Subscribe to our newsletter