Not to mention the excitement of decorating and furnishing your new home after you’ve received the keys. To calculate the numbers involved, you can use a loan amortization schedule. Do I need a financial planner? Savings Account. Key Takeaways Banks prefer borrowers who can pony up at least a fifth of a home’s asking price as a down payment. Because these types of funds need to be accessible to you quickly when you need them, it’s not a good idea to take on the risk that comes with investing. Ideally, the funds should earn a return, while also remaining stable enough in value that they’ll be sufficient to meet the down payment when the time comes.