Homeownership has long been considered an important tool for building financial security and wealth, but it's becoming more difficult for Americans to achieve. Younger generations are less likely to own a home than those from older generations, with millennials' homeownership rate 8% lower than that of generation X and baby boomers at the same age.
If the rate had remained steady, about 3.4 million more people would own homes in the U.S. today but, instead, younger adults are increasingly choosing to either rent or live with their parents. There are a number of reasons why homeownership has become less attainable than it was decades ago, from rising debt in younger generations to increased cost of living.
A report by the Urban Institute found half those aged 18 to 34 were spending upward of 30% of their income on rent, making them "rent-burdened." Meanwhile, median
housing prices increased 28% in the last two years, pricing some out of the market. However, the shift is not all happenstance.
Comment: