Down Payment by City
How Much Is a Down Payment on a House in Fort Worth?
Updated November 1, 2026
Reviewed by:
Head of Growth at TurboHome
Agent, Texas · Texas Realtor® License #674075
A 20% down payment on the median Fort Worth home is $67,400, based on 5,966 Fort Worth homes that closed between May 1 and October 31, 2026 at a median price of $337,000. Most buyers put down less: an FHA loan at 3.5% down needs $11,795, a 5% conventional loan needs $16,850 and 10% down is $33,700. The median home fits inside the $563,500 Tarrant County FHA limit, and 89.4% of all Fort Worth sales in the period were FHA-eligible at 3.5% down.
TurboHome Market Analysis · Fort Worth, Texas · Sales closed from May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Key findings
- On the median Fort Worth home ($337,000), the down payment ranges from $11,795 at 3.5% (FHA) to $67,400 at 20%.
- Home type matters less here than in most cities: 10% down is $33,800 on the median single family home ($337,997) and $29,999 on the median condo or townhome ($299,990).
- 89.4% of Fort Worth sales were priced within the $563,500 Tarrant County FHA limit at 3.5% down, and 2% needed a jumbo loan even with 20% down (2026 conforming limit $832,750).
- How Fort Worth buyers actually paid: 43.4% conventional, 15.9% cash, 28.2% FHA and 10.5% VA, based on the 99.7% of closings that record a financing type.
- The Fort Worth median fell 1.4% year over year in our MLS feed ($341,799 to $337,000), which moved a 20% down payment by about $960.
Down payment on the median Fort Worth home
The table uses the $337,000 median sale price for Fort Worth 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) | $11,795 | $325,205 | Within FHA limit | $2,216 |
| 5% down (conventional minimum) | $16,850 | $320,150 | Conforming | $2,182 |
| 10% down | $33,700 | $303,300 | Conforming | $2,067 |
| 20% down (no mortgage insurance) | $67,400 | $269,600 | Conforming | $1,837 |
Putting 20% down instead of 3.5% on the median Fort Worth home cuts the monthly principal and interest by about $379 and avoids mortgage insurance, but it takes $55,605 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 Fort Worth
Single family homes and condos sell at very different prices in Fort Worth, 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 | 5,770 | $337,997 | $11,830 | $16,900 | $33,800 | $67,599 |
| Condo or townhome | 196 | $299,990 | $10,500 | $15,000 | $29,999 | $59,998 |
| All homes | 5,966 | $337,000 | $11,795 | $16,850 | $33,700 | $67,400 |
Entry level, median and upper tier in Fort Worth
One in four Fort Worth homes sold for $279,000 or less (the 25th percentile), and one in four sold for $425,000 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) | $279,000 | $9,765 | $13,950 | $27,900 | $55,800 | $251,100 (conforming) |
| Median | $337,000 | $11,795 | $16,850 | $33,700 | $67,400 | $303,300 (conforming) |
| Upper tier (75th percentile) | $425,000 | $14,875 | $21,250 | $42,500 | $85,000 | $382,500 (conforming) |
2026 loan limits in Tarrant 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, Tarrant County | $563,500 | $583,938 at 3.5% down | 89.4% |
| Conforming loan limit, Tarrant County | $832,750 | $876,579 at 5% down | 96.9% |
| Jumbo needed even at 20% down | above $832,750 loan | above $1,040,938 price | 2% 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 Tarrant 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 Fort Worth buyers actually paid
Of the Fort Worth closings in the period, 99.7% 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 | 43.4% | $365,000 | 3% to 5% |
| Cash | 15.9% | $316,999 | 100% |
| FHA | 28.2% | $312,792 | 3.5% |
| VA | 10.5% | not calculated | 0% |
FHA buyers in Fort Worth bought at a median $312,792, against $365,000 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 Fort Worth
These are the three lowest-median neighborhoods in Fort Worth with at least 15 closings in the period, out of 97 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bomber Heights | 24 | $181,750 | $6,361 | $9,088 | $18,175 |
| Rosemont | 22 | $200,000 | $7,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Hillside | 27 | $205,000 | $7,175 | $10,250 | $20,500 |
| Citywide median | 5,966 | $337,000 | $11,795 | $16,850 | $33,700 |
| Mira Vista (highest median) | 15 | $1,633,750 | $57,181 | $81,688 | $163,375 |
Local notes for Fort Worth buyers
Fort Worth is the easiest down payment in this guide: the median home sold for $337,000, so 3.5% down is $11,795 and 20% is $67,400, and 83.8% of homes closed under $500,000. FHA loans covered 28.2% of recorded closings, the highest share of any city we track, and VA another 10.5%, so low-down-payment offers are the norm rather than the exception. Bomber Heights, Rosemont and Hillside on the south and west sides ($181,750 to $205,000 medians) put a 5% down payment near $10,000. Homes sat a median 32 days and only 16.7% sold above asking, and prices were flat year over year ($341,799 to $337,000), so a first-time buyer here should negotiate seller-paid closing costs and keep the down payment savings for reserves. The Tarrant County FHA limit of $563,500 covered 89.4% of sales.
Texas down payment assistance for Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth home ($337,000) with an FHA loan of $325,205, 5% of the loan amount is $16,260, which is more than the $11,795 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 5,966 Fort Worth, 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 Tarrant 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 Fort Worth?
On the median Fort Worth home, which sold for $337,000 between May 1 and October 31, 2026, a down payment is $11,795 at 3.5% (FHA), $16,850 at 5%, $33,700 at 10% and $67,400 at 20%. One in four homes sold for $279,000 or less, where 5% down is $13,950.
What is the minimum down payment for a house in Fort Worth?
FHA loans allow 3.5% down, which is $11,795 on the median Fort Worth home, as long as the loan stays under the $563,500 Tarrant County limit; 89.4% of Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth?
No. 15.9% of recorded Fort Worth closings were all-cash and FHA plus VA loans covered 38.7%; the remaining 45.4% 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 ($67,400 on the median home) avoids mortgage insurance and lowers the payment by about $379 a month compared with 3.5% down.
Is Fort Worth a jumbo loan market?
Mostly not. Only 2% of Fort Worth 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. 96.9% of sales fit a conforming loan at just 5% down.
Is there down payment assistance in Fort Worth?
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 Fort Worth home with an FHA loan is about $16,260, 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
- Best first-time buyer neighborhoods in Fort Worth
- HOA fees in Fort Worth
- How long it takes to close on a house in Fort Worth
- TurboHome buyer rebate in Texas
Stretch your down payment further with a flat-fee agent in Fort Worth
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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