Americans haven’t given up on owning a home. 85% say they’d rather own than rent. 76% of non-homeowners say they want to own in the future. The aspiration is intact.
But the path there? That’s a different story.
Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe a six-figure income is now required just to enter the market. Seven in 10 say homeownership feels more like a privilege than a goal. And nearly half say housing costs have put their lives on pause — delaying marriages, families, and futures.
The dream isn’t dead. It’s just being priced out of reach, generation by generation.
“”The housing market isn’t just failing buyers. It’s reshaping how Americans see their own futures. Nearly half of Americans say housing costs are putting their lives on pause. That’s not a market statistic — that’s a generation of people delaying milestones, rethinking careers, and redefining what success looks like. The freeze isn’t just economic. It’s existential.”” –Libby Rodney, Chief Strategy Officer, The Harris Poll
Download the report.
Find out how rising costs, a frozen market, and vanishing starter homes are reshaping how Americans think, feel, and make decisions about where they live.
