Down Payment & Purchase Price | Definition, Overview & Formula - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

The formula to calculate down payment is: {eq}Down\:payment = down\:payment\:percent \times purchase\:price {/eq}. The percent is given as a decimal. If the down payment is 15%, then the number used in the calculation is 0.15 ({eq}15 \div 100 = 0.15 {/eq}). Making the formula for a 15% down payment: {eq}Down\:payment = 0.15 \times purchase\:price {/eq}.

Examples of How to Calculate Down Payment

To purchase a $200,000 house with a 20% down payment, the down payment can be calculated. First, change the percentage into a decimal:

{eq}20 \div 100 = 0.2 {/eq}.

The down payment percent is 0.2, and the purchase price is $200,000. This information is inserted into the formula: {eq}Down\:payment = 0.2 \times $200000 = $40000 {/eq}. For a 5% down payment on the same home, this can be calculated in the same way. First, change the percentage into a decimal: {eq}5 \div 100 = 0.05 {/eq}. Next, put the information into the formula: {eq}Down\:payment = 0.05 \times $200000 = $10000 {/eq}.

This formula can also be used to determine what percentage down payment will be provided for a particular purchase. For a car that costs $30,000, if $5000 is available for a down payment, the percentage can be calculated:

{eq}$5000 = percentage \times $30000 {/eq}

First, divide both sides by $30000:

{eq}$5000 \div $30000 = percentage = 0.167 {/eq}

Change the decimal into a percentage by multiplying by 100%:

{eq}0.167 \times 100 = 16.7 {/eq}.

$5000 paid toward a $30,000 loan is a 16.7% down payment.

This formula can also be used to determine how large of a purchase price is possible with a specific down payment and desired down payment percentage. With a $25,000 down payment, if at least a 10% (0.1) down payment is needed, how large can the purchase price be?

{eq}$25000 = 0.1 \times purchase\:price {/eq}

First, divide both sides by 0.1, then solve for the purchase price:

{eq}$25000 \div 0.1 = purchase\:price = $250000 {/eq}

The maximum purchase price, to have a 10% down payment of $25,000, is $250,000.

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Down Payment & Purchase Price | Definition, Overview & Formula - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for down payment? ›

The formula looks like this: Down Payment = Purchase Price × Down Payment Percentage. Down Payment = $200,000 × 10%

What is the simple definition of down payment? ›

Down Payment Definition

A down payment on a house is the money a buyer pays upfront to complete the real estate transaction. Down payments are typically a percentage of a home's purchase price and can range from 3% – 20% for a primary residence.

What is the relationship between the purchase price down payment and the mortgage amount? ›

A down payment is a sum a buyer pays upfront when purchasing a home or car and is a percentage of the total purchase price. The higher the down payment, the less the buyer will need to borrow to complete the transaction, the lower their monthly payments, and the less they'll pay in interest over the long term.

Is down payment based on purchase price? ›

The down payment is the initial cash payment the buyer makes during a real estate transaction. It represents a percentage of the total purchase price of the home. Down payments can range between 3 percent and 20 percent of the purchase price, depending on the type of mortgage used.

How do you calculate buy down cost? ›

The difference between the payment amount of the original mortgage and the total annual savings of the buydown program selected equals the total cost of the buydown.

What is the best example of a down payment? ›

In real estate, a “down payment” is the amount of cash you pay upfront toward the purchase of a home. Down payments vary in size and are typically expressed as a percentage of the purchase price. For example, a 10% down payment on a $400,000 home is $40,000.

Is it better to put more on a down payment or buy down interest rate? ›

If you are buying a home and have some extra cash to add to your down payment, you can consider buying down the rate. This would lower your payments going forward. This is a particularly good strategy if the seller is willing to pay some closing costs.

What percent of the purchase price would a down payment be? ›

Minimum down payment requirements
Loan TypeDown Payment Minimum
Conventional conforming loan3 percent
Jumbo loans10 percent
FHA loan3.5 percent
VA loanZero percent
2 more rows
Apr 9, 2024

What is a good down payment price? ›

Home sellers often prefer to work with buyers who make at least a 20% down payment. A bigger down payment is a strong signal that your finances are in order, so you may have an easier time getting a mortgage. This can give you an edge over other buyers, especially when the home is in a hot market.

Which purchase does not require a down payment? ›

Government-backed USDA and VA loans can allow you to buy a home with $0 down. The fact that these loans are backed by the federal government allows lenders to be more lenient with down payment requirements.

What percentage of the purchase price is required as a down payment for conventional? ›

Down payment: While 20 percent down is the standard, many fixed-rate conventional loans for a primary residence allow for a down payment as small as 3 percent or 5 percent. Private mortgage insurance (PMI): If you put down less than 20 percent, you'll have to pay PMI, an additional fee added to your payments.

How much is a 20 down payment on a 500 000 house? ›

Introduction to down payments

It's usually expressed as a percentage of the purchase price. So, if your mortgage requires that you put down, say, 3%, the down payment needed for a $500K house would be $500,000 x 3% = $15,000. And a 20% down payment would require $100,000 ($500,000 x 20% = $100,000).

What is the formula for simple interest down payment? ›

Simple Interest Formula

Simple interest is calculated with the following formula: S.I. = (P × R × T)/100, where P = Principal, R = Rate of Interest in % per annum, and T = Time, usually calculated as the number of years. The rate of interest is in percentage R% (and is to be written as R/100, thus 100 in the formula).

What is the 3 2 1 buydown formula? ›

A 3-2-1 buydown temporarily lowers the interest rate on your mortgage by 3 percentage points the first year, 2 percentage points the second year, and 1 percentage point the third year. After that time, your mortgage will revert to the original rate. This is a huge deal with interest rates at their current levels.

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