Minimum Down Payment for a Conventional Mortgage in Oregon

Published:
November 28, 2017
Last updated:
March 16, 2022
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When you apply for a mortgage, you’ll need a down payment that goes towards the purchase price of your home, The question is, what is the smallest down payment you can come up with when buying a home in Oregon? This article will outline your down payment obligations.

As a home buyer in Oregon, you have options when it comes to the size of your down payment. The minimum required investment can vary from one mortgage program to another. Today, we will look at the minimum down payment required for a conventional home loan in Oregon, updated for 2022.

Minimum Down Payment for a Conventional Loan

Definition: A conventional home loan is one that is not guaranteed or insured by the federal government. This sets them apart from the government-insured mortgage programs, such as FHA and VA.

In Oregon, conventional loans are the most popular financing option used by home buyers. Specifically, the 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage is the most widely used type of loan today.

So, how much do you have to put down when using a conventional loan in Oregon? The minimum investment can vary based on a number of factors, but it can be as low as 3%.

Related: Down payment strategies for buyers

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (the government-sponsored corporations that buy home loans from lenders) can purchase products with loan-to-value ratios as high as 97%. This means that the minimum down payment for a conventional loan in Oregon can be as low as 3% of the purchase price.

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How This Might Translate into Real Dollars

Down payment sizes vary based on home values and other factors. Here is what a down payment of 3% might look like in Oregon, based on current home prices.

  • As of March 2022, the median house value in Oregon was around $500,527.
  • A 3% conventional down payment on that amount would come to $15,015.
  • An FHA loan down payment of 3.5% (the minimum) would come to $17,518.

Some people who use conventional mortgage loans to buy a house in Oregon make down payments of 20% or more. They do this for a specific reason. It allows the borrower to avoid paying mortgage insurance, which is generally required with a down payment below 20%.

Private mortgage insurance is a type of policy that is paid for by the borrower but is designed to protect the lender in case the borrower default son the mortgage payments. While this type of insurance makes mortgages slightly more expensive, it makes it possible for many homebuyers to purchase a home that they may otherwise be unable to afford.

Of course, not everyone can afford a 20% down payment on a house. And for those borrowers, there are financing options with a lower investment requirement. These include FHA loans. And for veterans and members of the military, there are also VA loans available that can offer zero down payment options.

Everything Is Pricier in Portland

The Portland metro area is one of the most populous parts of the state. As a result, the city tends to have higher home prices than the statewide average. In March, the median home value in Portland was $574,291.

  • Using that price point, the minimum down payment for a conventional loan in Portland would be somewhere around $17,228.
  • The minimum (3.5%) down payment for an FHA-insured mortgage loan would come to around $20,100, on a median-priced home.
  • A 20% down payment in this price range would amount to roughly $114,858.

This is based on the median, or midpoint, for house values in the area. Your down payment could be significantly less or more than these figures, depending on the price of the house you are buying.

The bottom line: The minimum down payment for a conventional loan in Oregon is lower than most people think. Surveys have shown that many home buyers believe they have to put down at least 20% when buying a house. But that’s not the case. Depending on the type of loan you use, the minimum required investment could range somewhere between 3% and 3.5% of the purchase price.

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Curious About Mortgages in Oregon?

Do you have more questions about down payments for mortgages in Oregon? Or are you ready to apply for a home loan to buy a home in the state? Sammamish Mortgage can help. We are a local, family-owned company based in Bellevue, Washington and provide mortgage programs in the entire state, as well as Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho since 1992. Please contact us if you have mortgage-related questions.

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