Down Payment by City
How Much Is a Down Payment on a House in Austin?
Updated November 1, 2026
Reviewed by:
Head of Growth at TurboHome
Agent, Texas · Texas Realtor® License #674075
A 20% down payment on the median Austin home is $111,200, based on 2,921 Austin homes that closed between May 1 and October 31, 2026 at a median price of $556,000. Most buyers put down less: an FHA loan at 3.5% down needs $19,460, a 5% conventional loan needs $27,800 and 10% down is $55,600. The median home fits inside the $571,550 Travis County FHA limit, and 54.2% of all Austin sales in the period were FHA-eligible at 3.5% down.
TurboHome Market Analysis · Austin, Texas · Sales closed from May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Key findings
- On the median Austin home ($556,000), the down payment ranges from $19,460 at 3.5% (FHA) to $111,200 at 20%.
- Home type changes the number more than anything else: 10% down is $60,000 on the median single family home ($600,000) and $37,750 on the median condo or townhome ($377,495).
- 54.2% of Austin sales were priced within the $571,550 Travis County FHA limit at 3.5% down, and 18.6% needed a jumbo loan even with 20% down (2026 conforming limit $832,750).
- How Austin buyers actually paid: 62.7% conventional, 25.5% cash, 5.5% FHA and 3.5% VA, based on the 98.1% of closings that record a financing type.
- Homes sat a median 54 days before going under contract and 10.5% sold above asking, so most Austin buyers had room to negotiate closing credits alongside their down payment.
Down payment on the median Austin home
The table uses the $556,000 median sale price for Austin homes that closed between May 1 and October 31, 2026 (single family homes, condos and townhomes). Monthly principal and interest is estimated at the Freddie Mac average 30-year fixed rate of 7.24% for the week of October 29, 2026; mortgage insurance, property taxes, homeowners insurance and HOA dues come on top.
| Down payment option | Down payment | Loan amount | Loan type at this price | Est. monthly principal and interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% down (FHA minimum) | $19,460 | $536,540 | Within FHA limit | $3,657 |
| 5% down (conventional minimum) | $27,800 | $528,200 | Conforming | $3,600 |
| 10% down | $55,600 | $500,400 | Conforming | $3,410 |
| 20% down (no mortgage insurance) | $111,200 | $444,800 | Conforming | $3,031 |
Putting 20% down instead of 3.5% on the median Austin home cuts the monthly principal and interest by about $625 and avoids mortgage insurance, but it takes $91,740 more cash at closing. Closing costs typically add another 2% to 3% of the price on top of any option in the table.
Down payment by home type in Austin
Single family homes and condos sell at very different prices in Austin, so the home type you target sets your savings goal.
| Home type | Sales (6 mo) | Median sale price | 3.5% down | 5% down | 10% down | 20% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single family home | 2,305 | $600,000 | $21,000 | $30,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Condo or townhome | 616 | $377,495 | $13,212 | $18,875 | $37,750 | $75,499 |
| All homes | 2,921 | $556,000 | $19,460 | $27,800 | $55,600 | $111,200 |
Entry level, median and upper tier in Austin
One in four Austin homes sold for $379,990 or less (the 25th percentile), and one in four sold for $870,000 or more. The entry tier is usually the better target for a first-time buyer's down payment plan.
| Price tier | Sale price | 3.5% down | 5% down | 10% down | 20% down | Loan at 10% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $379,990 | $13,300 | $19,000 | $37,999 | $75,998 | $341,991 (conforming) |
| Median | $556,000 | $19,460 | $27,800 | $55,600 | $111,200 | $500,400 (conforming) |
| Upper tier (75th percentile) | $870,000 | $30,450 | $43,500 | $87,000 | $174,000 | $783,000 (conforming) |
2026 loan limits in Travis County and what they mean for your down payment
| Limit (one unit, 2026) | Amount | Max purchase price at minimum down | Share of sales within limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA loan limit, Travis County | $571,550 | $592,280 at 3.5% down | 54.2% |
| Conforming loan limit, Travis County | $832,750 | $876,579 at 5% down | 75.4% |
| Jumbo needed even at 20% down | above $832,750 loan | above $1,040,938 price | 18.6% of sales |
Texas has no high-cost counties, so the conforming limit is the national baseline of $832,750 everywhere in the state, and the Travis County FHA limit is $571,550. FHA loans allow 3.5% down with a 580 or higher credit score but carry an upfront premium of 1.75% of the loan and monthly mortgage insurance for the life of the loan at less than 10% down. Conventional loans allow 3% to 5% down for first-time buyers with private mortgage insurance that drops off at 20% equity. Jumbo loans above the conforming limit usually require 10% to 20% down and higher reserves. Limits are from the FHFA and HUD announcements for 2026 (fhfa.gov, hud.gov).
How Austin buyers actually paid
Of the Austin closings in the period, 98.1% record the buyer's financing type in the MLS. Among those:
| Financing type | Share of closings | Median sale price for this type | Minimum down payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 62.7% | $590,000 | 3% to 5% |
| Cash | 25.5% | $578,750 | 100% |
| FHA | 5.5% | $385,221 | 3.5% |
| VA | 3.5% | not calculated | 0% |
FHA buyers in Austin bought at a median $385,221, against $590,000 for conventional buyers, so the low-down-payment route is concentrated in the lower half of the market.
Nationally, first-time buyers put down a median 10% and repeat buyers 23% according to the NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (nar.realtor), and Redfin found the typical buyer put down 15%, or about $64,000, in March 2026 (redfin.com).
Where a down payment goes furthest in Austin
These are the three lowest-median neighborhoods in Austin with at least 15 closings in the period, out of 54 that qualified. Entry prices come with trade-offs: older buildings, higher HOA dues or longer commutes.
| Neighborhood | Sales (6 mo) | Median sale price | 3.5% down | 5% down | 10% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Lane | 23 | $237,500 | $8,312 | $11,875 | $23,750 |
| West Campus | 43 | $288,800 | $10,108 | $14,440 | $28,880 |
| North Campus | 19 | $312,500 | $10,938 | $15,625 | $31,250 |
| Citywide median | 2,921 | $556,000 | $19,460 | $27,800 | $55,600 |
| Tarrytown (highest median) | 32 | $1,617,500 | $56,613 | $80,875 | $161,750 |
Local notes for Austin buyers
Austin's median of $556,000 puts 3.5% down at $19,460 and 20% at $111,200, and the condo market is where small down payments work: the median condo or townhome sold for $377,495, so 10% down is $37,750. Parker Lane, West Campus and North Campus ($237,500 to $312,500 medians) are the cheapest pockets, though West Campus is largely student-oriented condos with high HOA dues and limited conventional financing. Homes sat a median 54 days and only 10.5% sold above asking, the slowest of any city in this guide, so Austin buyers have real leverage on price, seller credits and rate buydowns. FHA covered 5.5% of recorded closings, cash 25.5%, and 54.2% of homes were within the $571,550 Travis County FHA limit at 3.5% down. New construction was 10.4% of closings, concentrated in the far east and south, where builders often cover closing costs.
Texas down payment assistance for Austin buyers
Two statewide programs cover most Texas first-time buyers. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs runs My First Texas Home, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount as a zero-interest deferred second lien that is repaid when you sell or refinance (tdhca.texas.gov). The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation runs Home Sweet Texas (for buyers under county income limits) and Homes for Texas Heroes (teachers, first responders, veterans and other public servants), each with up to 5% assistance as a grant or a forgivable second lien (tsahc.org). On the median Austin home ($556,000) with an FHA loan of $536,540, 5% of the loan amount is $26,827, which is more than the $19,460 FHA minimum down payment on that home. Both programs require a 620 or higher credit score, a homebuyer education course and income under the county limit.
Methodology
TurboHome analyzed 2,921 Austin, Texas home sales recorded in the MLS with a close date between May 1 and October 31, 2026 and a sale price above $50,000. Single family homes, condominiums and townhouses are included; land, mobile and manufactured homes, multifamily and timeshares are excluded. Down payments are calculated as a straight percentage of the sale price and rounded to the nearest dollar; lender overlays, seller credits and closing costs are not included. FHA eligibility is the share of sales where the price less a 3.5% down payment is at or below the 2026 Travis County FHA one-unit limit of $571,550; the conforming test uses a 5% down payment against the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750; the jumbo test uses a 20% down payment against the same limit. Loan limits are from the FHFA announcement of November 25, 2025 and HUD's 2026 FHA limits effective January 1, 2026. The financing mix counts only closings where the MLS records a single buyer financing type; multi-value entries and blanks are excluded, and the mix is omitted where fewer than 80% of closings have a recorded type. Neighborhood medians use the MLS neighborhood field and require at least 15 closings (Sacramento uses ZIP codes with at least 8 closings because of thinner feed coverage). Monthly payment estimates use the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey 30-year fixed average of 7.24% for the week of October 29, 2026 (freddiemac.com/pmms), principal and interest only. Year-over-year comparisons use the same method for May 1 to October 31, 2025 and are shown only where the prior period has at least 100 closings in our feed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a down payment on a house in Austin?
On the median Austin home, which sold for $556,000 between May 1 and October 31, 2026, a down payment is $19,460 at 3.5% (FHA), $27,800 at 5%, $55,600 at 10% and $111,200 at 20%. One in four homes sold for $379,990 or less, where 5% down is $19,000.
What is the minimum down payment for a house in Austin?
FHA loans allow 3.5% down, which is $19,460 on the median Austin home, as long as the loan stays under the $571,550 Travis County limit; 54.2% of Austin sales in the period qualified. Conventional loans allow 3% to 5% down for first-time buyers, and VA loans require no down payment for eligible veterans and service members.
Do I need 20% down to buy a house in Austin?
No. 25.5% of recorded Austin closings were all-cash and FHA plus VA loans covered 9%; the remaining 65.5% were conventional or other loans, many of them with less than 20% down and private mortgage insurance. Nationally, first-time buyers put down a median 10%. Putting 20% down ($111,200 on the median home) avoids mortgage insurance and lowers the payment by about $625 a month compared with 3.5% down.
Is Austin a jumbo loan market?
Mostly not. Only 18.6% of Austin homes sold for more than $1,040,938, the price at which a 20% down payment still leaves a loan above the $832,750 conforming limit. 75.4% of sales fit a conforming loan at just 5% down.
Is there down payment assistance in Austin?
Yes. TDHCA's My First Texas Home and TSAHC's Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes programs offer up to 5% of the loan amount for the down payment and closing costs, which on the median Austin home with an FHA loan is about $26,827, more than the 3.5% FHA minimum. Income limits, a 620 credit score and a homebuyer education course apply.
Related TurboHome guides
- Down payment on a house in every TurboHome market
- Income needed to buy a home in Austin
- Best first-time buyer neighborhoods in Austin
- HOA fees in Austin
- How long it takes to close on a house in Austin
- TurboHome buyer rebate in Texas
Stretch your down payment further with a flat-fee agent in Austin
About the Author
Vinura Abeysundara
Vinura Abeysundara is a real estate and growth professional with experience scaling homebuying platforms across Canada and the United States. Formerly Head of Growth at Zown, he now works with TurboHome and writes about homebuyer savings, flat-fee real estate, commissions, and technology in real estate.
View Vinura on LinkedInAbout Jake Shuler
Agent, Texas
Jake Shuler is a Texas REALTOR® with more than 10 years of real estate experience and over 200 successful transactions. As an agent at TurboHome, he helps buyers navigate the Texas housing market and writes about homebuying, negotiations, local market trends, and ways buyers can save throughout the process.
View Jake's profile