New house : downpayment or deposit ?

How much money should you set aside before getting serious about household buying ? 

Generally speaking, the minimal downpayment that financial institutions ask for fluctuates around 5 % of the total purchase amount. However, if the downpayment happens to sit below 20 % of the purchase amount or to exceed 80 % of the property's total value, buyers will be required to subscribe to a mortgage default insurance either with the SCHL or a private firm.

It is worth noting that a downpayment is not a deposit. In the latter case, and when dealing with a construction commission, each promotor may set the initial payment amount differently. Some will ask for a fixed amount while others rather request a percentage of the sale's price. Thereafter, some promotors may also ask future owners for additional payments spread throughout their house construction. In any case, the terms and conditions should clearly be stated in the preliminary contract.