Renters lose hope over housing market

American renters are fearful that their home-owning aspirations are increasingly getting out of reach, according to a recent survey by the real-estate platform Redfin, amid an environment of high home prices and elevated mortgage rates.

Almost 40 percent of the renters polled told surveyors they did not believe they would own a home of their own, up from 27 percent in a similar survey Redfin conducted in May and June. Part of the struggle for these Americans is that homes are beyond what they can afford. Securing a down payment can prove elusive, and high mortgage rates may discourage them from acquiring property.

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The Redfin survey sampled about 3,000 U.S. residents in February, and its analysis of renters’ expectations came from a 1,000 renters in the poll.

Mortgage rates in particular have stayed elevated over the past six months. After hitting a peak of 8 percent—the highest level since the turn of the century—mortgage rates declined to the mid-6 percent range at the end of the year and into 2024. In recent weeks, however, the cost of home loans have ticked up to above 7 percent, depressing activity in the mortgage market.

A “for rent” sign in front of a home in Miami on July 12, 2023. Renters increasingly see the dream of owning a home as beyond their reach, according to a Redfin survey.
A “for rent” sign in front of a home in Miami on July 12, 2023. Renters increasingly see the dream of owning a home as beyond their reach, according to a Redfin survey.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On April 11, the 30-year fixed rate rose to almost 7.4 percent, Mortgage News Daily reported, the highest levels since November 2023. The rise follows news that suggests borrowing costs may stay elevated for longer than economists initially anticipated.

High mortgage rates now mean that first-time buyers must earn about $76,000 to afford what the industry describes as a starter home, which is an 8 percent increase from a year ago and almost 100 percent higher than it was before the pandemic, Redfin said. It added that home prices have soared more than 40 percent since 2019, as buyers took advantage of low borrowing costs during the pandemic to acquire houses, increasing demand, escalating competition and pushing up prices.

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“Buying a home has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans due to the one-two punch of high home prices and high mortgage rates,” Redfin wrote.

Renters being unable to buy homes has in turn contributed to increased competition and price jumps in the rental market. The median asking rent is at $2,000 in the U.S., close to the record high it reached in 2022, Redfin said. Still, despite the elevated cost of rent, renting may be a more affordable option than homeownership.

“Housing costs are high across the board, but renting is a more affordable and realistic option for many Americans right now—especially those who have never owned a home and aren’t able to tap into equity from a previous sale,” said Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist. “While owning a home is usually a sound long-term investment, the barriers to entry and upfront costs of buying are higher than renting.”

To purchase a house, a buyer would need about $60,000 as a down payment for a home loan, an amount that is out of reach for many Americans.

Fairweather added, “The sheer expense of purchasing a home is causing the American Dream of homeownership to lose some of its shine.”