There is no single right answer. The honest move is a real side-by-side at a couple of down-payment levels: cash required, total monthly payment, rate, and mortgage insurance. A bigger down payment means a smaller loan and a lower payment. But once that cash is in the house, getting it back out takes a refinance or a second mortgage, with the time, cost, and re-qualifying that involves, especially above 80% loan-to-value. Money you keep liquid stays available for emergencies, or it can stay invested, where long-run returns may outgrow the interest you would save by paying the loan down faster. That return carries market risk and is never guaranteed. With strong credit and 10% or 15% down, private mortgage insurance is often far cheaper than people assume. As an illustration only, moving from 10% down to 20% down might tie up tens of thousands more in cash to save a few hundred dollars a month, once you account for how small the MI can be. Have your lender price the actual mortgage insurance rather than guessing at it, and remember that crossing certain thresholds (like the 80% loan-to-value line) can change the MI even when the rate does not. Our general lean: - Put down as little as you are genuinely comfortable with on the payment. - Keep a healthy reserve cushion. An emergency fund in the bank is worth more than a slightly lower payment. - Only push toward 20% if there is still real money in the bank afterward. The decision is yours, and any choice is a sound one when you make it with the full comparison in front of you. That true side-by-side on your own scenario is what the free Roadmap conversation (about 20 minutes) is for.