在美国买房，首付比例低得惊人
在存钱买房时，大多数美国人都以为按照惯例，他们需要存够房价的20%作为首付。
但美国房地产经纪人协会（National Association of Realtors）的人口统计与行为分析副总裁杰西卡·劳兹表示，首付20%“是最大的谬论” 。
劳兹告诉《财富》杂志，2020年，美国首次购房者的首付比例中位数只有7%，自1989年以来也没有超过10%。事实上，72%的首次购房者今年支付的首付款不超过20%。
这是因为许多首次购房者使用了低首付计划和补助，例如基金Chenoa Fund、HomeReady抵押贷款、Home Possible抵押贷款，以及美国住房和城市发展部（U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development）提供的各种联邦支持贷款和各州推出的项目等。
劳兹说：“很可惜，有些潜在购房者不知道这些项目，或许他们可以更快地拥有自己的房子。”
Redfin的首席经济学家达里尔·费尔韦瑟也同意这种观点，他认为购房人并非一直都需要支付两成首付。费尔韦瑟告诉《财富》杂志：“你甚至能够支付3%的首付，只是大部分购房人选择支付更多的首付款。”
但劳兹和费尔韦瑟都认为，目前市场竞争激烈，因此支付更高比例的首付甚至全款买房可能是一种竞争优势。美国房地产经纪人协会的调查发现，今年有接近四分之一购房人（23%）提交了全款报价。费尔韦瑟称：“购房人应该针对他们计划在特定地区购买的房屋类型，调查市场竞争状况。”
另外值得注意的一点是，首付低于20%的购房人可能需要支付私人抵押贷款保险，这会增加购房开支，不利于提高房屋净值。费尔韦瑟指出：“在经济条件允许的情况下，最好首付不低于20%，尤其是在竞争激烈的市场，你可能要与其他财力雄厚的购房人竞价。在卖方市场，卖房人通常更愿意选择首付比例更高的购房人。”
但劳兹表示，如果购房人希望首付不超过两成，他们也有各种选择。她认为，或许他们需要与全款购房人竞争，但卖房人有时候会因为其他一些因素而改变主意，比如灵活的交割日期或者支付更高所谓诚信保证金等。诚信保证金通常为房款的1%至3%。如果交易进展顺利，这笔保证金就通常可以用于支付交割费用或首付款。
费尔韦瑟指出，购房人也能够先首付20%通过抵押贷款预先核准，然后在建立第三方托管账户时调整为更低的首付比例。他补充说：“如果你的存款足够首付20%，但你不愿意花光所有储蓄，这就是一种很好的选择。”（财富中文网）
翻译：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
在存钱买房时，大多数美国人都以为按照惯例，他们需要存够房价的20%作为首付。
但美国房地产经纪人协会（National Association of Realtors）的人口统计与行为分析副总裁杰西卡·劳兹表示，首付20%“是最大的谬论” 。
劳兹告诉《财富》杂志，2020年，美国首次购房者的首付比例中位数只有7%，自1989年以来也没有超过10%。事实上，72%的首次购房者今年支付的首付款不超过20%。
这是因为许多首次购房者使用了低首付计划和补助，例如基金Chenoa Fund、HomeReady抵押贷款、Home Possible抵押贷款，以及美国住房和城市发展部（U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development）提供的各种联邦支持贷款和各州推出的项目等。
劳兹说：“很可惜，有些潜在购房者不知道这些项目，或许他们可以更快地拥有自己的房子。”
Redfin的首席经济学家达里尔·费尔韦瑟也同意这种观点，他认为购房人并非一直都需要支付两成首付。费尔韦瑟告诉《财富》杂志：“你甚至能够支付3%的首付，只是大部分购房人选择支付更多的首付款。”
但劳兹和费尔韦瑟都认为，目前市场竞争激烈，因此支付更高比例的首付甚至全款买房可能是一种竞争优势。美国房地产经纪人协会的调查发现，今年有接近四分之一购房人（23%）提交了全款报价。费尔韦瑟称：“购房人应该针对他们计划在特定地区购买的房屋类型，调查市场竞争状况。”
另外值得注意的一点是，首付低于20%的购房人可能需要支付私人抵押贷款保险，这会增加购房开支，不利于提高房屋净值。费尔韦瑟指出：“在经济条件允许的情况下，最好首付不低于20%，尤其是在竞争激烈的市场，你可能要与其他财力雄厚的购房人竞价。在卖方市场，卖房人通常更愿意选择首付比例更高的购房人。”
但劳兹表示，如果购房人希望首付不超过两成，他们也有各种选择。她认为，或许他们需要与全款购房人竞争，但卖房人有时候会因为其他一些因素而改变主意，比如灵活的交割日期或者支付更高所谓诚信保证金等。诚信保证金通常为房款的1%至3%。如果交易进展顺利，这笔保证金就通常可以用于支付交割费用或首付款。
费尔韦瑟指出，购房人也能够先首付20%通过抵押贷款预先核准，然后在建立第三方托管账户时调整为更低的首付比例。他补充说：“如果你的存款足够首付20%，但你不愿意花光所有储蓄，这就是一种很好的选择。”（财富中文网）
翻译：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
When it comes to saving for and buying a home, most Americans rely on the general rule of thumb that they need to have 20% of the home price saved for the down payment.
But the 20% down payment is “the biggest myth that’s out there,” said Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights at the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Last year, the median down payment for first-time homebuyers was just 7%, and it hasn’t risen above 10% since 1989, Lautz told Fortune. In fact, 72% of first-time homebuyers put down less than 20% for their down payment this year.
That’s because there are actually a lot of first-time homebuyers who take advantage of low down-payment programs and assistance, such as the Chenoa Fund, the HomeReady and Home Possible mortgages, as well as a variety of federally backed loans through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and state programs.
“Unfortunately there are potential homebuyers who are out there and not aware these programs exist, and maybe could enter homeownership significantly faster,” Lautz said.
Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather agrees, saying that a 20% down payment is not always necessary. “You may be able to put as little as 3% down, though most buyers put down more,” Fairweather told Fortune.
But both Lautz and Fairweather said that in today’s competitive market, it can be an advantage to come in with a higher down payment, or even better, an all-cash offer. Nearly a quarter of homebuyers, 23%, submitted an all-cash offer for a home this year, according to NAR’s research. “Buyers should research how competitive the market is for the type of home they want to buy in their area,” Fairweather said.
It’s also worth noting that homebuyers who put down less than 20% will likely have to pay for private mortgage insurance, which is an added housing expense that doesn’t help with building home equity. “If you can afford it, offering to put down at least 20% is ideal, especially in a competitive market like this one where you’ll likely compete against other well-financed buyers in bidding wars,” Fairweather said. “When sellers can choose from multiple offers, they usually prefer higher down-payment amounts.”
Those who are looking to put down less than 20% for their down payment do have options, however, Lautz said. Although they may be competing with all-cash offers, she noted that sometimes sellers can be swayed by things like being flexible with closing dates or putting more money toward the so-called earnest money check, which is a good faith deposit that typically ranges from 1% to 3% of the home price. If the sale goes smoothly, that money can typically then be applied to help cover closing costs or to the down payment.
There’s also nothing stopping homebuyers from getting preapproved for a mortgage with a 20% down payment, then switching to a lower down payment during escrow, Fairweather said. “That can be a good option if you have the savings for a 20% down payment but you don’t feel comfortable putting your entire life savings on the line,” he added.
