How much to put down on a home

There's no right answer and it's difficult to even attempt to answer without more information. What's your monthly take home? How much do you have in savings and retirement? I'd say at least 20% to avoid PMI, but it depends.

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Are there loans out there where you can put down only 10%

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Ya, a conventional loan with PMI. As low as 5%.

I'd figure with these interest rates why put all 125k into the house. As long as he doesn't go blow the difference, he has a great emergency/investment fund waiting for him to make house payments down the road if tragedy strikes.

I would only put 20% unless you cant earn more than 3% on your long term savings.

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Ya, a conventional loan with PMI. As low as 5%.

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Really? Up to what amount?

No idea, I didn't ask

North of 300k though, at least 350k

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A loan officer I think would say put the min so they'll get more interest.

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depends on the loan officer. the loan officer is going to want you to get approved first and foremost.

we recently purchased a house and the mortgage broker said put 25% down to get the interest rate down.

20-25% down will get you the best mortgage deal available.

Are there things that you can place the money into which might be better than the benefit of 5% down (conventional FNMA or FHLMC)? Maybe. But I don't typically buy into that philosophy. It's usually built on half truths.

1) How quickly are you going to buy? (rate locks affect the terms).
2) Ask your loan officer if paying .125% or .25% discount points will affect your loan (ie. buy down the rate .125%). This pricing changes daily. But there is often an opportunity to recoup your investment in 1 to 2 years (and enjoy it for as long as you maintain the mortgage).

After you close, I recommend getting a HELOC to recoup available credit on the equity that you put down (i.e. it could be better than financing a used car through a bank in the future. Home repairs, etc..)

Good luck.

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And how long is a helic good for? Never had one and know nothing about them c

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The details vary based on lender.

Ballpark of a decade for a given application

I would wait until a need comes up to apply for that reason.....more equity to use on a wider range of uses

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I would wait until a need comes up to apply for that reason.....more equity to use on a wider range of uses

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I respectfully disagree.
The need could be important (lost job, medical condition, home repair, etc..) and those needs could also be a reason why a lender could decline an application for the line of credit.
Banks like to approve loans for people who don't need them and decline the ones that are urgent.

If the home appreciates, you can request an increased limit with the bank or shop and switch to a new lender with more favorable terms.

Terms are often 10 year credit lines that become 10 year installment loans based upon whatever is outstanding at that time(covering a full 240 months from application).