Down Payment by City
How Much Is a Down Payment on a House in Dallas?
Updated November 1, 2026
Reviewed by:
Head of Growth at TurboHome
Agent, Texas · Texas Realtor® License #674075
A 20% down payment on the median Dallas home is $95,000, based on 4,850 Dallas homes that closed between May 1 and October 31, 2026 at a median price of $475,000. Most buyers put down less: an FHA loan at 3.5% down needs $16,625, a 5% conventional loan needs $23,750 and 10% down is $47,500. The median home fits inside the $563,500 Dallas County FHA limit, and 59.4% of all Dallas sales in the period were FHA-eligible at 3.5% down.
TurboHome Market Analysis · Dallas, Texas · Sales closed from May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Key findings
- On the median Dallas home ($475,000), the down payment ranges from $16,625 at 3.5% (FHA) to $95,000 at 20%.
- Home type changes the number more than anything else: 10% down is $53,500 on the median single family home ($535,000) and $33,950 on the median condo or townhome ($339,500).
- 59.4% of Dallas sales were priced within the $563,500 Dallas County FHA limit at 3.5% down, and 17.6% needed a jumbo loan even with 20% down (2026 conforming limit $832,750).
- How Dallas buyers actually paid: 52.6% conventional, 30.2% cash, 11.7% FHA and 2.8% VA, based on the 99.6% of closings that record a financing type.
- The Dallas median rose 5.6% year over year in our MLS feed ($449,900 to $475,000), which moved a 20% down payment by about $5,020.
Down payment on the median Dallas home
The table uses the $475,000 median sale price for Dallas 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) | $16,625 | $458,375 | Within FHA limit | $3,124 |
| 5% down (conventional minimum) | $23,750 | $451,250 | Conforming | $3,075 |
| 10% down | $47,500 | $427,500 | Conforming | $2,913 |
| 20% down (no mortgage insurance) | $95,000 | $380,000 | Conforming | $2,590 |
Putting 20% down instead of 3.5% on the median Dallas home cuts the monthly principal and interest by about $534 and avoids mortgage insurance, but it takes $78,375 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 Dallas
Single family homes and condos sell at very different prices in Dallas, 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 | 3,856 | $535,000 | $18,725 | $26,750 | $53,500 | $107,000 |
| Condo or townhome | 994 | $339,500 | $11,883 | $16,975 | $33,950 | $67,900 |
| All homes | 4,850 | $475,000 | $16,625 | $23,750 | $47,500 | $95,000 |
Entry level, median and upper tier in Dallas
One in four Dallas homes sold for $265,000 or less (the 25th percentile), and one in four sold for $815,000 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) | $265,000 | $9,275 | $13,250 | $26,500 | $53,000 | $238,500 (conforming) |
| Median | $475,000 | $16,625 | $23,750 | $47,500 | $95,000 | $427,500 (conforming) |
| Upper tier (75th percentile) | $815,000 | $28,525 | $40,750 | $81,500 | $163,000 | $733,500 (conforming) |
2026 loan limits in Dallas 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, Dallas County | $563,500 | $583,938 at 3.5% down | 59.4% |
| Conforming loan limit, Dallas County | $832,750 | $876,579 at 5% down | 77.8% |
| Jumbo needed even at 20% down | above $832,750 loan | above $1,040,938 price | 17.6% 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 Dallas County FHA limit is $563,500. 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 Dallas buyers actually paid
Of the Dallas closings in the period, 99.6% 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 | 52.6% | $590,000 | 3% to 5% |
| Cash | 30.2% | $480,000 | 100% |
| FHA | 11.7% | $285,000 | 3.5% |
| VA | 2.8% | not calculated | 0% |
FHA buyers in Dallas bought at a median $285,000, 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 Dallas
These are the three lowest-median neighborhoods in Dallas with at least 15 closings in the period, out of 95 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalfont Place | 41 | $170,000 | $5,950 | $8,500 | $17,000 |
| Vickery Meadows | 44 | $189,500 | $6,633 | $9,475 | $18,950 |
| Fruitdale | 22 | $199,000 | $6,965 | $9,950 | $19,900 |
| Citywide median | 4,850 | $475,000 | $16,625 | $23,750 | $47,500 |
| Preston Royal (highest median) | 16 | $3,017,250 | $105,604 | $150,862 | $301,725 |
Local notes for Dallas buyers
Dallas has the widest spread between its cheapest and most expensive neighborhoods of any city in this guide: Chalfont Place and Vickery Meadows condos closed at $170,000 and $189,500 medians, while Preston Royal houses closed at $3,017,250. The citywide median of $475,000 means 3.5% down is $16,625 and 20% is $95,000, and 52.7% of homes closed under $500,000. FHA financing covered 11.7% of recorded closings, and the Dallas County FHA limit of $563,500 covered 59.4% of sales at 3.5% down. Cash buyers were 30.2% of closings, concentrated in the condo and investor-heavy segments in Vickery Meadows and Oak Cliff. Homes sat a median 29 days and only 15.4% sold above asking, so a Dallas buyer with a small down payment has room to ask for seller-paid closing costs, which is now routine in DFW.
Texas down payment assistance for Dallas 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 Dallas home ($475,000) with an FHA loan of $458,375, 5% of the loan amount is $22,919, which is more than the $16,625 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 4,850 Dallas, 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 Dallas County FHA one-unit limit of $563,500; 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 Dallas?
On the median Dallas home, which sold for $475,000 between May 1 and October 31, 2026, a down payment is $16,625 at 3.5% (FHA), $23,750 at 5%, $47,500 at 10% and $95,000 at 20%. One in four homes sold for $265,000 or less, where 5% down is $13,250.
What is the minimum down payment for a house in Dallas?
FHA loans allow 3.5% down, which is $16,625 on the median Dallas home, as long as the loan stays under the $563,500 Dallas County limit; 59.4% of Dallas 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 Dallas?
No. 30.2% of recorded Dallas closings were all-cash and FHA plus VA loans covered 14.5%; the remaining 55.3% 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 ($95,000 on the median home) avoids mortgage insurance and lowers the payment by about $534 a month compared with 3.5% down.
Is Dallas a jumbo loan market?
Mostly not. Only 17.6% of Dallas 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. 77.8% of sales fit a conforming loan at just 5% down.
Is there down payment assistance in Dallas?
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 Dallas home with an FHA loan is about $22,919, 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 Dallas
- Best first-time buyer neighborhoods in Dallas
- HOA fees in Dallas
- How long it takes to close on a house in Dallas
- TurboHome buyer rebate in Texas
Stretch your down payment further with a flat-fee agent in Dallas
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.
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