🇺🇸 Country Hub
US property costs and rules: down payments, PMI, transfer taxes, property tax and the closing process for domestic and foreign buyers.
Buying property in the United States is more local than any other market on this site. There is no national transfer tax, no national property tax, and no national closing process — every state, county, and sometimes every city sets its own rates and its own paperwork. What is universal is the shape of the deal: a down payment, a mortgage with an amortizing monthly payment, closing costs at settlement, and annual property taxes that can dominate the holding cost.
This hub collects the numbers that matter for US buyers: how much down payment is normal, what PMI adds when you pay less, how closing costs are built, and which calculators turn a listing into a monthly cost you can carry.
The deposit is only the beginning — these are the costs that actually move your budget. Figures are illustrative country defaults; confirm live rates locally.
| Cost | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Typical down payment | 3.5–20% | FHA from 3.5%; 20% avoids PMI |
| Mortgage insurance (PMI) | ~0.5–1% of loan / yr | below 20% equity, until 78–80% LTV |
| Closing costs | 2–5% of price | lender fees, title, escrow, taxes |
| Transfer tax | 0–2.1% | state/county-level; NY proxy 1.4–2.1% |
| Annual property tax | ~1.2% of value / yr | set locally; varies enormously |
| Typical process | 30–45 days | offer → inspection → appraisal → closing |
Turn an asking price into the numbers you can carry:
the full PITI payment including tax and insurance
what insurance costs when your deposit is under 20%
the cash-to-close beyond the deposit
the annual holding cost most buyers under-budget
how much house your income supports
FHA loans start around 3.5% down and conventional loans at 5%, but under 20% you pay mortgage insurance until your equity reaches 78–80% of the original value. The PMI Calculator shows the exact monthly cost of a thin deposit.
Yes — there are no nationality restrictions on owning US property. Financing is harder: non-residents typically need 25–40% down and pay higher rates, and FIRPTA rules can apply when a foreign seller disposes of US real estate.
Lender fees, title insurance, escrow, recording, and prorated taxes usually total 2–5% of the price. The Closing Cost Calculator turns them into a cash-to-close figure before you sign anything.
Educational content. Figures use illustrative country defaults with named, dated sources and are not legal, tax, or valuation advice. Property rules, fees, and taxes change — confirm every number with a qualified local professional before you commit.
