Young Americans Delay Homeownership as Prices and Rates Bite

According to ZeroHedge, homeownership intentions among young Americans have fallen to record lows, with only 25 percent of non-homeowners expecting to buy a house in the next five years, the lowest share since Gallup began tracking the question in 2013. Among those aged 18 to 34, a key group of prospective buyers, the share expecting to buy in the next five years dropped from 57 percent in 2013/2015 to 29 percent in 2025/2026, while the share who don't see themselves buying a home in the foreseeable future increased from 13 to 30 percent, according to the source.

Key takeaways
Only 25 percent of non-homeowners expect to buy a house in the next five years, the lowest share since Gallup began tracking the question in 2013.
Among those aged 18 to 34, the share expecting to buy in the next five years dropped from 57 percent in 2013/2015 to 29 percent in 2025/2026.
The share of non-owners who don't see themselves buying a home in the foreseeable future increased from 13 to 30 percent.
Elevated home prices, high mortgage rates, and stagnant real wages have made homeownership difficult to consider for many families.

Table of Contents
Homeownership Intentions Hit Record Lows
Young Buyers Face Steeper Barriers
Why Housing Affordability Matters for Markets
What Non-Owners Are Doing Instead
What to Watch Next

Homeownership Intentions Hit Record Lows

The Gallup data cited by ZeroHedge shows that homeownership intentions among non-homeowners have declined sharply over the past decade. Only 25 percent of non-homeowners expect to buy a house in the next five years, down from higher levels recorded in earlier surveys. The source attributes the decline to elevated home prices, high mortgage rates, and a period of stagnant real wages that have left many families unable to even consider homeownership.

For decades, homeownership has been a key milestone of adulthood in the United States, according to the source. The middle-class ideal of homeownership and suburban comfort, once an embodiment of the American Dream, has gotten out of reach for many families in recent years. The combination of price appreciation, financing costs, and limited income growth has reshaped the housing market landscape and the expectations of prospective buyers.

Young Buyers Face Steeper Barriers

Among those aged 18 to 34, the decline in homeownership intentions has been particularly pronounced. The share expecting to buy in the next five years dropped from 57 percent in 2013/2015 to 29 percent in 2025/2026, according to the source. At the same time, the share of non-owners in this age group who don't see themselves buying a home in the foreseeable future increased from 13 to 30 percent.

The source notes that the rest of the non-owner population expects to wait longer before buying a home, either to build up savings for a down payment or in hopes that prices and mortgage rates will come down from their current levels. This shift reflects both financial constraints and changing expectations about the timing and feasibility of homeownership.

For readers following broader market updates , this development can help frame the wider housing and consumer finance context.

Why Housing Affordability Matters for Markets

Housing affordability influences consumer spending, household formation, and broader economic activity. When prospective buyers delay or abandon homeownership plans, it can affect demand for home construction, home improvement, furniture, appliances, and related goods and services. It can also influence household mobility, savings behavior, and the allocation of income between rent, debt service, and discretionary spending.

For investors, housing market trends matter because they can influence the performance of homebuilders, mortgage lenders, real estate investment trusts, home improvement retailers, and financial institutions with exposure to residential real estate. Shifts in homeownership rates and buyer demographics can also affect regional economic growth, labor mobility, and the demand for rental housing.

The source does not specify the direct market impact of the reported survey results, but the underlying trends can inform how investors and analysts assess housing-related sectors.

What Non-Owners Are Doing Instead

The source indicates that non-owners who do not expect to buy in the next five years are either waiting longer to build up savings for a down payment or hoping that prices and mortgage rates will come down from their current levels. This suggests that some prospective buyers remain interested in homeownership but are deferring their plans due to affordability constraints and market conditions.

The increase in the share of non-owners who don't see themselves buying a home in the foreseeable future, from 13 to 30 percent, suggests that a growing segment of the population may be reconsidering homeownership as a long-term goal. Without additional details, it is unclear whether this shift reflects a permanent change in preferences, a temporary response to market conditions, or a combination of both.

Readers should watch for future survey data and housing market disclosures to assess whether these trends persist or reverse as market conditions evolve.

What to Watch Next

Readers should monitor future Gallup survey releases and other consumer sentiment data to track whether homeownership intentions stabilize, decline further, or begin to recover. Key housing market indicators to watch include home price indices, mortgage rate trends, housing affordability measures, and data on household formation and first-time buyer activity.

Any changes in mortgage financing conditions, government housing policy, or real wage growth could influence the outlook for homeownership demand. For investors, disclosures from homebuilders, mortgage lenders, and housing-related companies may provide additional insight into how shifting buyer demographics and affordability constraints are affecting business models and market positioning.

The source does not provide specific forecasts or company-level details, so readers should treat the reported survey data as a useful signal of consumer sentiment and housing market challenges rather than a direct predictor of near-term market outcomes.

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