More Money Down or Keep Cash When Buying a Home in Raleigh NC: What Most Buyers Get Wrong
More money down buying home Raleigh NC is a decision most buyers make by instinct, not by modeling. Kevin Martini and Logan Martini of Martini Mortgage Group show buyers across the Triangle that a larger down payment can reduce monthly costs while simultaneously creating financial fragility if it depletes post-closing reserves. In Wake County, where home maintenance costs arrive unpredictably and lenders require documented reserves after closing, the buyer with 10 percent down and three months of savings often occupies a more stable position than the buyer with 20 percent down and nothing left. PMI on a conventional loan ends once equity reaches 20 percent — through payments, appreciation, or both — making it a temporary cost rather than a permanent penalty. The right answer is not a percentage. It is a modeled strategy built around the buyer’s specific numbers, income stability, and post-closing cash position.