PR Newswire·Nov 10, 2025, 10:00 AM ET

71% of Aspiring Homeowners Are Delaying Kids, Career Moves, and Other Major Life Decisions Until They Buy a Home

HOUS

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC released the 2025 American Dream Report based on a survey of over 3,000 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll.
71% of aspiring homeowners are delaying major life decisions such as marriage, parenthood, career changes, or pet ownership until they can afford to buy a home.
18% of aspiring homeowners delay marriage or having children, while 17% postpone job changes or getting pets.
84% of Gen Z aspiring homeowners postpone at least one life decision, with 29% specifically delaying having children.
53% of aspiring first-time homeowners do not expect to buy their first home until age 40 or older.
56% of Americans define the American Dream through homeownership, surpassing other milestones like marriage, retirement, career success, or college degrees.
83% of non-homeowners want to buy a home someday, including 97% of Gen Zers and 93% of Millennials.
65% of Americans view homeownership as a smarter long-term financial decision than renting, while 48% consider real estate a better wealth-building tool than the stock market.
84% of Americans are willing to make concessions such as taking a side job, buying a smaller home, or moving to a more affordable area.
36% of respondents have considered co-buying with family, while 33% have considered co-buying with non-romantic partners.
19% of Gen Z and 14% of Millennials have already moved in with parents or in-laws to save for a home.
63% of non-homeowners hope to purchase a home within the next five years, including 70% of Gen Z and 72% of Millennials.
The survey was conducted online from September 29 to October 1, 2025, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.