Down Payment Savings Planner
Plan your path to a home down payment and see exactly how long it will take.
Down Payment Strategies
Why 20%? A 20% down payment lets you avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), which typically costs 0.5%–1.5% of the loan amount per year. On a $400,000 loan that's $2,000–$6,000 extra per year.
High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs) are ideal for down payment funds — they're FDIC-insured and currently offer 4%–5% APY. Keep your savings liquid so you can act quickly when you find your home.
5% or 10% down lets you buy sooner but means higher monthly payments and PMI. Run the numbers: sometimes buying earlier in a rising market offsets PMI costs.
Compound interest is your ally. This planner uses the formula: Balance = (P + C/r) × (1+r)^n − C/r, where P is current savings, C is monthly contribution, r is monthly rate, and n is months.