Print pageYounger Buyers Want to Own, but Are Discouraged by Financial Hurdles and Misconceptions
A new national survey, commissioned by NeighborWorks America and conducted by Morning Consult, finds that while homeownership remains a strong aspiration across the U.S., younger adults, especially GenZers and Millennials, are facing growing doubt. Nearly half of adults are interested in buying a home, but many believe it’s simply out of reach due to cost, credit and confusion. First-time buyers are actively saving and cutting spending, but persistent myths about down payments and limited access to guidance are slowing their progress.
Key Findings at a Glance:
Homeownership interest remains strong:
49% of U.S. adults are interested in buying a home, yet 31% believe it’s unattainable.
Younger generations are the most eager—and the most discouraged:
39% of GenZers and Millennials are actively searching for homes, but 38% of GenZers and 32% of Millennials say they don’t believe they’ll ever own one.
Top financial barriers stand in the way:
Respondents cited low income (33%), high home prices (22%), credit challenges (22%) and saving for a down payment (21%) as key hurdles.
Would-be buyers are taking action:
Among those planning to buy in the next year, 72% are saving for a down payment, 53% have reduced non-essential spending and 34% have taken on additional work.
Awareness doesn’t equal understanding:
While 61% are aware of down payment assistance programs, nearly 60% overestimate what’s actually required to buy a home, suggesting that outdated beliefs are deterring otherwise ready buyers.
What This Tells Us:
The desire to own a home is alive and well, especially among younger adults, but the path to ownership is filled with obstacles. Many are doing the hard work: saving money, cutting costs and researching programs. But without trusted guidance and clearer communication, they risk being locked out by misinformation and outdated assumptions.
NeighborWorks America and its network of nonprofit organizations are closing this gap by offering financial coaching, homebuyer education and down payment assistance. Together, we are helping people turn intention into ownership and building stronger, more equitable communities.
👉 Read the full press release to learn more about the data and how NeighborWorks is helping more people own their future.
Data
Morning Consult Executive Summary Memo
Methodology: This poll was conducted between May 17-18, 2025 among a sample of 2,201 adults aged 18+ in the US. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on age, gender, race, educational attainment, region, gender by age, and race by educational attainment. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
