4 Ways to Come Up With Down Payment for a Home

Every American citizen dreams of owning a home. The high down payment required to purchase a home turns it into a pipe dream for many. However, this does not make it entirely impossible.

last updated Tuesday, September 9, 2025
#Second Mortgage #Retirement Funds

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by John Burson

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With the right amount of fiscal discipline, you can still be a homeowner even if you don’t have boatloads of cash stashed somewhere. Here are four ways to come up with the down payment:

Second Mortgage

It’s quite common to hold a second mortgage these days. Many homeowners in the US carry two mortgages, the first and the second. Typically, the second mortgage is in the form of a home equity line and sits behind the first mortgage; as a result, it’s sometimes referred to as a piggyback loan.  Both loans are closed concurrently during the transaction.

Tap Into Your Retirement Funds

Many retirement savings plans — such as 401 (k) or IRA — allow members to borrow from them when buying a home. Your 401(k) retirement account can allow you to withdraw your principal balance without early withdrawal penalties. However, rules governing retirement accounts vary, and you might want to inquire about current regulations with your CPA.

Equity

If you want to purchase a second home, you might want to consider using your existing home’s equity as a down payment for the second home.  Taking out a home equity line of credit from the first home to raise the down payment for the second one is the least expensive option to finance your second home without tying up your cash reserves.

Use Taxable Investments

If you plan to sell taxable investments, consider raising the down payment and selling assets such as mutual funds, bonds, and stocks. If they are big enough, you can also use these investments as collateral to obtain a separate loan.  Using tax-deferred investments, such as an IRA and a 401(k), is not recommended.

What about My Credit Card?

It’s important to explore all available options when it comes to raising your down payment, which may leave you wondering if you can use your credit card to source these funds. The answer is yes, but it’s probably not the best idea. An advance on your credit card attracts higher interest rates. These rates can accumulate quickly, especially when applied to a project as large as buying a house.

 
 
 

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