Buying a home is exciting. It can also make you do things you'd never do with any other purchase, like convince yourself that a little mold in the basement "probably isn't a big deal." You're not alone. According to a 2026 survey by Clever Real Estate, 76% of home buyers would be willing to overlook

According to a new report from Realtor.com, the median down payment in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in four years.  In Q1 2026, the median down payment was $23,400, or 12.8% of the purchase price. Down payments have now declined for four straight quarters, with a median of $28,900 one year ago.

A 2026 survey looked at how Americans are actually getting into homes right now. It found 40% of all surveyed homeowners received financial help with their down payment, up from 35% just three years ago.  The generational numbers are even more striking: more than half of millennial buyers got help,