For generations, the American Dream has been defined by homeownership. But in 2025, that dream is harder to hold onto. Rising mortgage rates, high home prices and the day-to-day cost of living have left many families stretched thin. Even as interest rates show signs of easing, affordability pressures remain, forcing buyers to ask not only, […]
Why is homeownership harder to sustain in 2025? Read More »
Down payments stayed largely unchanged in the third quarter of 2025 as homebuyers balanced high prices with slowing demand, according to Realtor.com’s newest Down Payment Report. The typical down payment was $30,400 — about $500 more than the previous quarter and roughly flat from a year earlier. Buyers continued to put down about 14.4% of
Down payments stay steady even as homebuyers face high prices Read More »
For generations, the American Dream was synonymous with homeownership — a white picket fence, a backyard and the pride of owning a place to call your own. But today, that dream is undergoing a quiet transformation. With the national median home price now exceeding $426,000, according to NAR, the goal for many Americans has shifted
From rates to reality: why innovative homeownership alternatives matter now Read More »
As home prices and mortgage rates continue to stretch budgets, many would-be homebuyers are wondering if they’ll ever be able to make the jump. Industry professionals say that creative financing tools and professional guidance can make homeownership more attainable, but a lack of awareness continues to stand in the way. Three voices from different corners
Help exists for cash-strapped homebuyers — but many don’t know it Read More »
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) announced on Thursday that it is partnering with the Tobias Harris Homeownership Initiative, Guild Mortgage and Homium on a pilot shared-appreciation mortgage program aimed at expanding access to homeownership in Detroit. The effort is backed by Detroit Pistons basketball player Tobias Harris. The mortgage product will provide qualified
Detroit’s new 40% down payment assistance program Read More »
Mortgage lender Click n’ Close has rolled out a new financing product that pairs an adjustable-rate mortgage with down payment assistance in an effort to make new homes more accessible to buyers. The program — called the SmartBuy 5/1 ARM Down Payment Assistance product — offers a first mortgage alongside a repayable second mortgage. The
Click n’ Close pairs 5/1 ARM with down payment assistance for new homes Read More »
Down Payment Resource (DPR) on Tuesday released its Q2 2025 Homeownership Program Index report. It found that 45 new down payment assistance programs launched in the second quarter, bringing the total number of available programs in the U.S. to 2,554 and the number of program providers to 1,340. The number of programs is a new
Down Payment Resource reports record-breaking DPA availability Read More »
Despite strong interest in home-buying, affordability challenges and misconceptions about down payments are deterring many potential buyers, according to a new survey from NeighborWorks America. The nonprofit organization reports that 27% of U.S. adults say they plan to buy a home within the next year. However, among those who are postponing or not planning to
Survey: Down payment concerns delay homeownership for many Read More »
Despite growing attention around all-cash transactions, most Americans — especially first-time buyers — continue to finance their home purchases, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Among primary residence buyers, 74% financed their home purchase in 2024. That share jumps to 91% for first-time buyers, said Jessica Lautz, NAR’s deputy chief
NAR: Homebuyers still have down payment misconceptions Read More »
Zown, a real estate platform that offers upfront financial help to homebuyers, is expanding into California with a goal to ease the burden of down payments and elevated home prices. The service has launched in the Golden State after gaining traction in Canada, where it supported more than 250 homebuyers and facilitated $300 million-plus in
New platform aims to ease California down payment burden Read More »