[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1219812457][quote author="Ambiepants" date=1219806882]Hi, everyone. This is my first post joining you on the forums. I tried the searchbox for my question first but came up empty-handed so I hope it's ok that I ask. Maybe this is too personal for some... I am just wondering how much cash do you or the average Irvine-buyer have to put down on a home? After looking at ipoplaya I am rather depressed. I have stored away what I thought was an okay amount. I will be paying $100k in cash when I buy (will probably buy in a year). But it seems that is a rather trivial amount compared to what many buyers are putting down. Am I just one of the few who doesn't have more money on hand? Or is this a common difficulty for you guys too? I am thankful that I have at least something. (I am not a first-time buyer. The money came from the sale of my home a few months ago plus some savings.) It just never seems like enough. My main concern is that this will really limit me to a house $500k or under (likely under since our household income is just over $100k/yr.) What difficult and interesting times to be living in. Thanks in advance for any responses.</blockquote>
IR2 / Deuce / IrvineRealtor has done some good research on this... The median down payment amount in Irvine, at least for this calendar year so far, is around $170K or 26% or so down.</blockquote>
Great stat. Mind boggling if you think about it. Personally speaking a huge down is bad business practice. I like to operate with "OPM". Conevtional 3% down FHA for me, and not until rates have moved up at least 200 basis points, which will slam prices hard. Asset deflation is the word of the day. The key is having high enough income and no debt. If your income is modest and not likely to experience big jumps as you advance in your career, a larger down is wise for the inflation hedge. This still assumes rental parity.
People will say buying a home is emotional, not an investment. To me money and emotion have no place in the same sentence. And the avg buyer currently with the avg down will watch it all evaporate if they have to sell in the next 10 years.
Take your $100K and put it as a down on a multi unit apt building in flyover country. You'll be cash flow positive and have a piece of property working for you.
Of course all this means nothing if your wife or husband will make your life hell until you agree to buy.