Find your exact down payment goal in 30 seconds. Includes 20% rule, CMHC insurance, FHSA & HBP strategies, and timeline. Free 2026 calculator for US/Canada.
In the US, conventional loans require 5-20% down. 20% avoids PMI (private mortgage insurance, 0.5-1% of loan/year). FHA loans accept 3.5% down. VA loans offer 0% down for veterans. In Canada, minimum is 5% for homes under $500K, 10% for the portion over $500K, 20% for homes over $1M (and required to avoid CMHC insurance). The median US down payment is 13-15%, Canadian is 15-20%.