More than 70% of hopeful homeowners are delaying major milestones until they can afford to buy

From having kids to starting a new career, more than half of Americans are putting major milestones on hold until they get their first home.

It’s no surprise that rising home prices and declining affordability are changing the way people live.

A new report from Coldwell Banker shed light on exactly how big of an impact the challenging 2025 housing market had on every aspect of American life.

A whopping 71% of would-be homeowners are delaying massive milestones like marriage, babies and career changes — all in the hopes of saving for that first downpayment. The gloomy outlook was documented in Coldwell Banker’s “2025 American Dream Report,” which surveyed more than 3,000 adults, nearly 900 of whom are aspiring homeowners.

Of those delaying life’s big moments, 18% reported delaying marriage and having children, and 17% said they put off changing jobs or careers.

Gen Z respondents proved extra pessimistic, with 84% planning to put off these rites of passage — even pet ownership — until they have their first set of keys in hand.

However lofty the goal of homeownership becomes, plenty of Americans are still striving for it.

The report found that 56% of those surveyed still believe that owning a home of one’s own defines the American dream.

The ideal outranked having a family, retiring by 67 or starting a career. This is despite more than half of respondents reporting that they don’t expect to achieve that dream until they are at least 40 years old.

The results of the “2025 American Dream Report,” suggest that a continually tight housing market could alter the pace of American life. Jason’s Waugh, the president Coldwell Banker Affiliates, told The Post that he does see sources of optimism in the report.  

“The data suggests that the pursuit of homeownership is not diminishing, it is evolving into a more intentional, informed, and financially aligned strategy,” Waugh said.

Waugh said he expects housing market trends in 2026 to lean towards pragmatism, including smaller home footprints, properties requiring modest renovations, and properties with income generating potential.

Owning real estate is still widely considered one of the best investments a person can make — 65% of Americans said they believe homeownership is still a better long-term financial choice than renting, according to the report.

Persistently high mortgage rates and record home prices, paired with limited housing supply in in-demand markets, have challenged US homebuyers for years now, but market shifts in buyers’s favor could be on the horizon.

Waugh pointed out that a majority of respondents in the report showed willingness to make practical concessions to afford a home — such as broadening their search areas — and expressed the intent to purchase a home within the next five years.

“When this sentiment is coupled with easing interest rates and a deceleration in home price appreciation, we begin to see conditions that are increasingly favorable for first-time buyers.”