Down Payment Trends Show Q2 Buyer Cash Fell From Last Year

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Realtor.com Research says down payments rose from Q1 but hit the lowest second-quarter level since 2021, a useful affordability signal for purchase pipelines.

Down payment trends moved in two directions in Q2 2026: buyers put more money down than they did in Q1, but less than they did a year earlier, according to a new Realtor.com Research report published September 24, 2026. The median down payment fell to $27,100, while the median down payment share landed at 13.7%.

For loan officers, the report is a clean reminder that cash to close is still one of the biggest friction points in purchase conversations. Even with some year-over-year easing, Realtor.com Research said Q2 down payments remained above pre-pandemic norms, so buyer preparation and early affordability work still matter.

Key takeaways

• Realtor.com Research reported the median down payment fell to $27,100 in Q2 2026.
• The median down payment share was 13.7%, down 0.6 percentage points from a year earlier.
• Both measures increased from Q1, reflecting a seasonal pickup in homebuying activity.
• Q2 2026 marked the lowest second-quarter down payment level since 2021, though down payments remained above pre-pandemic norms.

Sources

• Realtor.com Research — Down Payments Pick Up But Remain Lower than Previous Year

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