Cheapest places to live in 2025–2026 include Toledo, Fort Wayne, Wichita, and Little Rock. See top affordable US cities for housing and cost of living.
Handle surprise home expenses fast. Learn how same-day loan options help cover urgent repairs and moving costs without disrupting your mortgage plans.
Mortgage points let you buy a lower interest rate. Learn how they work, how much they cost, and whether buying points actually saves you money.
Learn what a USDA guarantee fee is, how it works, current rates, and how it affects your monthly mortgage payment in 2025.
*All payments are estimated for demonstration purposes only and exclude property tax and homeowner's insurance.
Common down payments when using a conventional loan are 5%, 10%, and 20%. The minimum down payment is 3%. We estimate PMI where applicable using familiar PMI rates. Work with your lender to explore PMI options.
FHA loans require a minimum 3.5% down payment. Making a 5% or 10% down payment reduces the FHA MIP and overall payment.
VA loans typically do not require a down payment. Making a 5% or 10% down payment will decrease the VA funding fee, particularly if you have previously used your VA home loan benefits. The funding fee is generally waived if you recieve service related disability.
If you have an active VA loan and have no plans to pay it off when buying your new home, you may need to make a down payment. Use our VA entitlement calculator to determine how much.