When someone buys a house, they usually don’t pay the whole price upfront. Instead, they put down part of the money right away—this is called a down payment. Think of it like a big deposit. The rest of the money comes from a loan called a mortgage.

Now, how much is needed for that down payment? It depends. Some people think you always need 20%, but that’s not true anymore. Many first-time homebuyers put down as little as 3% to 5% of the home’s price. For example, if a house costs $300,000, a 3% down payment would be $9,000, while a 5% down payment would be $15,000.

There are even special loan programs—like VA loans for veterans or USDA loans for rural areas—that can allow for 0% down, meaning no down payment at all. On the other hand, some buyers choose to put down more, like 10% or 20%, because it lowers their monthly payment and can help them avoid something called private mortgage insurance (PMI).

So, the short answer: a buyer could need anywhere from $0 to 20% or more, depending on the type of loan and their personal situation. The best thing is to talk with a lender, because they’ll explain which options are available and what makes the most sense for that person.