In the simplest terms, home equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and your home’s current market value. If you owe $100,000 on your mortgage and your home is worth $400,000, then you have 75% home equity. Conversely, if you have a remaining mortgage balance of $300,000 on your $400,000 house, you have 25% home equity.
Key insights:
It’s possible (and common) for buyers to purchase a home with less than a 20 percent down payment.
In addition to a down payment, financial factors and credit history are important considerations for loan approval.
Pending other factors, buyers with less than 5% down can get approved for a variety of loans — including conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans.
