10/09/2026
Delaying a Home Purchase Has Long-term Costs:
As living costs rise across the board, many young adults are delaying homeownership in favor of other life milestones, according to Realtor.com's Allaire Conte. One explanation is the rising cost of those other milestones: In 2026, Conte reports, the average wedding will cost $36,000. That is nearly 54% higher than the typical down payment ($23,400 in Q1 2026).
Delaying homeownership can be costly. A recent Realtor.com analysis shows that the timing of a purchase influences wealth creation: Decades of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics showed households that delayed homeownership until their 40s lost out on about $119,000 in net worth by age 50 compared with those who bought their home around age 30. As priorities shift, homeownership demographics are evolving. NAR's Generational Trends report found that 35% of Gen Z buyers were single women and 17% were unmarried couples, the largest share ever reported for both demographics.