re: What's the most amount of money you'd put down on a new house? It would be a new build.

I close on a newbuild at the end of the month. I put down 20%, but I am adding upgrades like landscaping, a pool, closets, gutters, and furnishings. I am paying cash for all of that.
Once I am closed and settled, I'll look at my cash and decide if I want to throw more $ at the principle. I am also going to at least double the required mortgage payment.


Make sure you have money left over to furnish it, so factor that in your planning.

At 7% rates, you want to put down as much as practical. You are losing money if you keep a ton of cash in a MM or CD. At the same time you always need cash for an emergency. Whatever peace of mind number you would desire is the amount you need to keep available.