Why does down payment vary across Delaware?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority DE

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city in Delaware.

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks Delaware cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated September 2026

Delaware ranking

27 cities ranked. Click any row for the matching local page.

#	City	Est. typical down payment	Score
1	Hockessin	$62,300	40	View →
2	Wilmington	$59,600	43	View →
3	Middletown	$58,300	44	View →
4	Bear	$54,500	48	View →
5	Townsend	$49,900	53	View →
6	Rehoboth Beach	$48,600	55	View →
7	Camden Wyoming	$47,200	56	View →
8	Lewes	$44,400	60	View →
9	Milton	$42,500	62	View →
10	Newark	$41,400	63	View →
11	Smyrna	$41,300	63	View →
12	Magnolia	$41,500	63	View →
13	Clayton	$40,300	64	View →
14	New Castle	$39,200	65	View →
15	Dover	$38,300	66	View →
16	Millsboro	$37,200	68	View →
17	Felton	$37,000	68	View →
18	Selbyville	$36,500	68	View →
19	Milford	$35,600	69	View →
20	Claymont	$33,800	71	View →
21	Frankford	$34,200	71	View →
22	Lincoln	$34,000	71	View →
23	Georgetown	$33,400	72	View →
24	Bridgeville	$33,000	72	View →
25	Seaford	$31,900	73	View →
26	Laurel	$31,700	74	View →
27	Harrington	$31,100	74	View →

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across Delaware?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.