Down Payment by City
How Much Is a Down Payment on a House in Houston?
Updated November 1, 2026
Reviewed by:
Head of Growth at TurboHome
Agent, Texas · Texas Realtor® License #674075
A 20% down payment on the median Houston home is $63,400, based on 11,032 Houston homes that closed between May 1 and October 31, 2026 at a median price of $317,000. Most buyers put down less: an FHA loan at 3.5% down needs $11,095, a 5% conventional loan needs $15,850 and 10% down is $31,700. The median home fits inside the $541,287 Harris County FHA limit, and 78.1% of all Houston sales in the period were FHA-eligible at 3.5% down.
TurboHome Market Analysis · Houston, Texas · Sales closed from May 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Key findings
- On the median Houston home ($317,000), the down payment ranges from $11,095 at 3.5% (FHA) to $63,400 at 20%.
- Home type changes the number more than anything else: 10% down is $33,000 on the median single family home ($330,000) and $21,850 on the median condo or townhome ($218,500).
- 78.1% of Houston sales were priced within the $541,287 Harris County FHA limit at 3.5% down, and 8.7% needed a jumbo loan even with 20% down (2026 conforming limit $832,750).
- Nationally, first-time buyers put down a median 10% and repeat buyers 23% (NAR, November 2025); the typical buyer put down 15%, or about $64,000, in March 2026 (Redfin).
- The Houston median was flat year over year ($318,000 to $317,000), so the 20% down payment target barely moved.
Down payment on the median Houston home
The table uses the $317,000 median sale price for Houston 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) | $11,095 | $305,905 | Within FHA limit | $2,085 |
| 5% down (conventional minimum) | $15,850 | $301,150 | Conforming | $2,052 |
| 10% down | $31,700 | $285,300 | Conforming | $1,944 |
| 20% down (no mortgage insurance) | $63,400 | $253,600 | Conforming | $1,728 |
Putting 20% down instead of 3.5% on the median Houston home cuts the monthly principal and interest by about $356 and avoids mortgage insurance, but it takes $52,305 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 Houston
Single family homes and condos sell at very different prices in Houston, 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 | 9,411 | $330,000 | $11,550 | $16,500 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| Condo or townhome | 1,621 | $218,500 | $7,648 | $10,925 | $21,850 | $43,700 |
| All homes | 11,032 | $317,000 | $11,095 | $15,850 | $31,700 | $63,400 |
Entry level, median and upper tier in Houston
One in four Houston homes sold for $230,000 or less (the 25th percentile), and one in four sold for $506,625 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) | $230,000 | $8,050 | $11,500 | $23,000 | $46,000 | $207,000 (conforming) |
| Median | $317,000 | $11,095 | $15,850 | $31,700 | $63,400 | $285,300 (conforming) |
| Upper tier (75th percentile) | $506,625 | $17,732 | $25,331 | $50,662 | $101,325 | $455,963 (conforming) |
2026 loan limits in Harris 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, Harris County | $541,287 | $560,919 at 3.5% down | 78.1% |
| Conforming loan limit, Harris County | $832,750 | $876,579 at 5% down | 88.9% |
| Jumbo needed even at 20% down | above $832,750 loan | above $1,040,938 price | 8.7% 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 Harris County FHA limit is $541,287. 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 Houston buyers actually paid
We do not publish a local financing mix for Houston because the Houston-area MLS does not report the buyer's financing type in our feed. 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). Applied to the Houston median of $317,000, a 10% first-time buyer down payment is $31,700 and a 15% typical down payment is $47,550.
Where a down payment goes furthest in Houston
These are the three lowest-median neighborhoods in Houston with at least 15 closings in the period, out of 103 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrodome Area | 69 | $137,000 | $4,795 | $6,850 | $13,700 |
| South Park | 70 | $159,450 | $5,581 | $7,972 | $15,945 |
| Kashmere Gardens | 15 | $170,000 | $5,950 | $8,500 | $17,000 |
| Citywide median | 11,032 | $317,000 | $11,095 | $15,850 | $31,700 |
| The Memorial Villages (highest median) | 71 | $2,890,000 | $101,150 | $144,500 | $289,000 |
Local notes for Houston buyers
Houston is the largest market in this guide by volume, with 11,032 closings, and the median of $317,000 means 3.5% down is $11,095 and 10% is $31,700; 74.8% of homes closed under $500,000. The Houston MLS (HAR) does not report the buyer's financing type in our feed, so we cannot publish a local FHA or cash share, but 78.1% of Houston sales were priced within the $541,287 Harris County FHA limit at 3.5% down. The Astrodome Area condo belt near the Texas Medical Center ($137,000 median), South Park ($159,450) and Kashmere Gardens ($170,000) are the lowest entry points, though many Astrodome Area complexes are investor-heavy and not warrantable for conventional loans, which pushes buyers toward cash or portfolio lenders. New construction was 11.3% of closings, and Houston builders commonly cover closing costs and offer rate buydowns, so a buyer with $15,000 saved often does better on a new build in Cypress, Katy or the far north side than on a resale inside the loop. Flood zone matters as much as the down payment: pull FEMA and Harris County Flood Control maps before you offer.
Texas down payment assistance for Houston 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 Houston home ($317,000) with an FHA loan of $305,905, 5% of the loan amount is $15,295, which is more than the $11,095 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 11,032 Houston, 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 Harris County FHA one-unit limit of $541,287; 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 Houston?
On the median Houston home, which sold for $317,000 between May 1 and October 31, 2026, a down payment is $11,095 at 3.5% (FHA), $15,850 at 5%, $31,700 at 10% and $63,400 at 20%. One in four homes sold for $230,000 or less, where 5% down is $11,500.
What is the minimum down payment for a house in Houston?
FHA loans allow 3.5% down, which is $11,095 on the median Houston home, as long as the loan stays under the $541,287 Harris County limit; 78.1% of Houston 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 Houston?
No. Nationally, first-time buyers put down a median 10% and the typical buyer 15%, and both FHA (3.5% down) and conventional (3% to 5% down) loans are widely used in Houston. Putting 20% down ($63,400 on the median home) avoids mortgage insurance and lowers the payment by about $356 a month compared with 3.5% down.
Is Houston a jumbo loan market?
Mostly not. Only 8.7% of Houston 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. 88.9% of sales fit a conforming loan at just 5% down.
Is there down payment assistance in Houston?
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 Houston home with an FHA loan is about $15,295, 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 Houston
- Best first-time buyer neighborhoods in Houston
- HOA fees in Houston
- How long it takes to close on a house in Houston
- TurboHome buyer rebate in Texas
Stretch your down payment further with a flat-fee agent in Houston
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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