What’s a deposit and how much do I need? (2024)

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What is a mortgage deposit?

A mortgage deposit is the amount of money you pay upfront towards the purchase of a home and the rest is covered by your mortgage.

Deposits can come from various places. For example, your savings, a gift from family, an inheritance, or the sale of your property if you’re moving home.

What is the minimum deposit for a mortgage?

The minimum deposit you need for a Nationwide mortgage is 5% of the property price, which would be a 95% mortgage. Eligibility criteria applies.

Have a look at our 95% mortgages

The advantages of a larger deposit

The larger your deposit, the smaller your mortgage and monthly payments. It also means a lower Loan to Value (LTV).

What is Loan to Value, or LTV?

LTV is something we might talk about when you’re looking for a mortgage with us. It means the size of your mortgage as a percentage of the property price. So, the larger your deposit, the lower the LTV.

For example:

You’re buying a property that is £200,000 with a £20,000 deposit.

Your deposit covers 10% of the property price.

The other 90% will be your mortgage.

We call this a 90% LTV mortgage.

Work out your LTV with your deposit amount

Use our mortgage rate calculator to get an idea of how much our mortgages could cost you. See how our rates change according to the LTV, depending on the deposit or borrowing amount you enter.

Go to rate calculator

How to save for a mortgage deposit

It can be tricky knowing where to start and what you can afford. These savings tools and tips could help.

Pay off any debts first

If you have debts like credit card bills or personal loans, consider paying those off first. When your debts are paid, you'll have more money available each month to build your savings up quicker. And don’t forget to check that you won’t have to pay any charges or fees for repaying the debt early.

Open a savings account and save regularly

Open a savings account and get into the habit of saving. Work out what you can afford to save and set up a Standing Order so it comes out of your account automatically each month.

When you’re choosing a savings account, you need to think about whether you:

  • need instant access to your money
  • could get a better interest rate by having a limited access or fixed rate account.

We have a range of savings accounts, including instant access and fixed rates that could help.

More on our types of savings accounts and compare our rates

Use our Banking app to make saving easier

If you have a current account with us, we have useful tools to help you save regularly in our Banking app.

By using our app, you can:

  • Set yourself a savings goal and track your progress
  • Round up your card transactions and save the spare change
  • Transfer money into your savings instantly with Impulse Saver.

More on our Banking app and how to get it

Watch our Banking app savings tools demos

Tips on saving for a mortgage deposit

It’s tempting to aim high when you start to save, but it might be too much, and you could find yourself giving up. Set a realistic goal you can stick to by working out what’s affordable each month.

  • Look at your spending
    Could you save more and get to your goal quicker by cutting back on any luxuries? It might mean giving up some of these for a while, like take-aways or regular nights out.

    Also check for any spending on unused memberships, like gym or streaming services and cancel them.

  • Consider switching
    Could you save extra money by switching phone, Wi-Fi or insurance providers? Use price comparison sites to see if you can get a better deal.

Get help with your mortgage deposit from your family

Some people get help from their family. They might be able to give you your deposit as a cash gift, or an amount to contribute towards it.

Whether the cash gift is all of your deposit, or an amount towards some of it, we call this a Gifted Deposit.

If you’re applying for a mortgage with a Gifted Deposit, you’ll need to tell us. We’ll ask you to show us evidence of where it’s coming from, and check you’re not expected to pay it back.

More on Gifted Deposits and what proof we need

The extra costs of buying a property

There are other costs that are not covered by a mortgage, like Stamp Duty, solicitor fees and a home survey to name a few. If you’re not prepared, it can make a big dent in the money you put towards your deposit.

Our guide on home surveys gives you a good idea of how much they can cost, and you can find the latest information on Stamp Duty and Land Tax on government websites:

For independent information and advice on the cost of moving, MoneyHelper (opens in a new window) can help.

Related links

  • Introduction to mortgages
  • First time buyers guide
  • 95% Mortgages
  • Gifted deposits

Important:

Mortgages are secured on your home. You could lose your home if you do not keep up payments on your mortgage.
Mortgages are subject to underwriting and criteria. Minimum age 18, UK residents only.

What’s a deposit and how much do I need? (2024)

FAQs

What’s a deposit and how much do I need? ›

The total security deposit can never be more than one and a half times the full monthly rent. Remember, a security deposit can include things like “last month's rent” paid up front, or a “pet deposit.” The landlord may request additional security deposit money annually.

How much money do I need as a deposit? ›

Generally, banks and financial institutions will recommend you have a deposit of at least 20% of your prospective property's purchase price. So, if we go back to our $400,000 home, you'd want to provide $80,000.

How much of a deposit would I need? ›

What is the minimum deposit for a mortgage? The minimum deposit you need for a Nationwide mortgage is 5% of the property price, which would be a 95% mortgage. Eligibility criteria applies.

What should be the deposit amount? ›

As per the law, the tenant must pay the security deposit in advance. It also states that the deposit amount cannot exceed two months' rent in the case of a residential property and six months in the case of a non-residential property.

How does a deposit work? ›

A deposit is money held in a bank account or with another financial institution that requires a transfer from one party to another. A deposit can also be the amount of money used as security or collateral for delivery of goods or services.

Can I deposit $1,000 dollars? ›

If you're headed to the bank to deposit $50, $800, or even $1,000 in cash, you can go about your affairs as usual. But the deposit may be reported if you're depositing a large chunk of cash. When banks receive cash deposits of more than $10,000, they must report it to the IRS.

What happens if you deposit $20000? ›

Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000 threshold was created as part of the Bank Secrecy Act, passed by Congress in 1970, and adjusted with the Patriot Act in 2002.

What is normal for a deposit? ›

You generally need a deposit of at least 20% of the property's value to avoid LMI, or put another way a maximum LVR of 80%.

How much should you ask for a deposit? ›

Here are some common ways that you can calculate your deposits: Use a range of 20-50%, depending on the size of the job. Ask for 50% for large jobs. Ask for 100% of the cost of materials before you buy them.

What is a reasonable deposit? ›

Usually, it's 3% of the purchase price unless the parties agree otherwise. If the buyer removes contingencies and then does not close the deal, the seller can keep the 3% as a non-refundable deposit. 3% is considered 'reasonable' in the context of earnest money deposits as 'non-refundable' by law.

What does $200 deposit mean? ›

If you make a $200 security deposit, for example, you usually receive a $200 credit limit. However, some card issuers offer a credit limit higher than your security deposit. Eventually, you may be able to increase the card's credit limit by making an additional security deposit or by regularly paying your bill on time.

What is an acceptable deposit? ›

the property's purchase price, and. your mortgage deal – most require a deposit at least 5% of the property's value.

How much money should be deposited? ›

Generally, experts recommend saving three to six months' worth of living expenses in an emergency fund. Ginty, however, suggests that people with children or dependents save more than that. “If you're a single parent, I'd recommend at least six months, but somewhere between six and 12 months.

Why is a deposit required? ›

Deposits are most often used when there is a valuable asset provided for use to the buyer or renter, or to secure the full payment of a product or service being provided at a later date.

Do you get a deposit back? ›

If you paid a deposit at the start of your tenancy, you have the right to get it back at the end. Your landlord or letting agent can only take money off if there's a good reason - for example if you've damaged the property. You'll need to contact your landlord at the end of your tenancy and ask them for your deposit.

What is a deposit for dummies? ›

A deposit is the money you entrust to a financial institution for safekeeping.

What is the minimum amount needed to open a deposit? ›

You might decide that a checking or savings account is the right product for you. If you do, opening an account at a bank or credit union is straightforward. The interest they pay for savings accounts You usually need to make an initial deposit between $25 and $100 to open a savings or checking account.

What is a safe amount of cash to deposit? ›

Key Takeaways

The deposit-reporting requirement is designed to combat money laundering and terrorism. Companies and other businesses generally must file an IRS Form 8300 for bank deposits exceeding $10,000. Your bank deposits are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per account.

Is it OK to deposit 2000 cash? ›

When it comes to cash deposits being reported to the IRS, $10,000 is the magic number. Whenever you deposit cash payments from a customer totaling $10,000, the bank will report them to the IRS. This can be in the form of a single transaction or multiple related payments over the year that add up to $10,000.

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