According to a new analysis, last year’s average home buyer put 14 percent down on their house, making last year’s average down payment $32,141. The analysis, conducted by RealtyTrac, looked at nearly 1.5 million home purchase loans in 386 counties across the country. The results reveal a number of things, especially which local real estate markets are most likely to see rising numbers of first-time buyers. “This analysis shows that first-time home buyers have a better shot at buying a home in low-priced markets, not just because of the lower price point but because on average buyers are putting down just 12 percent in those markets compared to 24 percent in high-priced markets,” said Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac’s vice president. Blomquist also noted that many of the markets that are drawing more young Americans are the same areas that have above-average down payment percentages. However, as the housing market normalizes and conventional buyers replace the real estate investors that dominated the market in the early years of the recovery, down payment averages will likely fall. Among the 25 least expensive markets, the average down payment was $8,239; the most expensive markets had an average down payment of $138,547. More here.