Anything under 20 percent down also means mortgage default insurance through CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty, and Saskatchewan charges provincial sales tax on that premium in cash at closing, which is a cost many first-time buyers do not budget for.
Add the home inspection, legal fees and a modest cash buffer for moving and immediate repairs, and the realistic number is meaningfully higher than the down payment figure most people quote first.
The right number for you depends on the specific price point and whether you are putting down 5 percent or 20 percent, so it is worth running the exact math before you start shopping. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.