The 20% figure is a myth. Real down payments vary widely, and there is no single typical number, but the shape of the picture holds up. - A lot of buyers, especially first-timers, put down single digits. Conventional loans go as low as 3% down, FHA is 3.5% (with a credit score of 580 or higher), and VA and USDA go to zero down for those who qualify. Gift funds from family are common in this group and push down payments lower than people expect. - The 10-to-20% range tends to be quieter. Buyers who clear the low-down tier often jump to the next meaningful threshold rather than parking in the middle. - Repeat and move-up buyers sit in a different spot entirely. They're rolling equity out of a sale and deciding how much goes into the new home versus reserves, debt payoff, or investing. The more useful question than "what does everyone else do" is "what should I do," and that turns on your goals: lowest cash to close, lowest payment, avoiding mortgage insurance, or keeping cash in reserve. Those pull in different directions. On the free Roadmap conversation, about 20 minutes, we run your actual numbers and show what each down payment level does to your payment and your cash position.