Northeast and Midwest See Rising Down Payments While the South Lags, According to Realtor.com®

Core Insights - Homebuyers in the U.S. set a new record for down payments in 2024, with significant increases in the Northeast and Midwest, while declines were observed in several Southern and Western states [1][2][3] Down Payment Trends - Delaware experienced the highest increase in median down payments at 38.6%, reaching $49,000, followed by Rhode Island at 32.8$15,350 and Florida down 14.1% to $27,566 [4][12] Regional Dynamics - The Northeast and Midwest are characterized by intense buyer demand and significant housing supply gaps, leading to higher prices and competitive market conditions [4][12] - Only eight out of the 50 states reported falling down payments in 2024, indicating a generally competitive market across the country [10] Metro-Level Analysis - The San Diego metro area saw the largest increase in down payments, with a 33.7% rise, while other metros like Cincinnati and New Orleans also reported significant increases [5][7] - Conversely, Cape Coral, Florida, experienced the largest decline in down payments at 31.2%, attributed to stagnant home prices [9][11] Future Outlook - Down payments are expected to remain high in competitive regions with limited inventory, while markets in the South and West may continue to experience softening trends [12]