Should I wait to save 20% or buy now with less down?

It depends on the math in your specific market, not a universal rule. Waiting to save 20% avoids PMI and lowers your payment, but it also means more years of rent and the risk that home prices and rates rise faster than you can save — potentially erasing the benefit. Buying now with 3%–5% down lets you start building equity and lock in a price, at the cost of temporary PMI (which you can drop once you reach 20% equity) and a higher payment. The honest comparison weighs your rent, expected price appreciation, the PMI cost, and how long it would actually take you to save the difference. In a fast-rising market, buying sooner often wins; in a flat or falling one, patience can pay. Don't buy a payment you can't comfortably afford either way. Compare both paths at wealthserene.com/tools/buy-now-vs-wait.