Realtor.com®: It Takes 7 Years to Save for a Down Payment, Down From 2022 Peak of 12 Years

High-cost coastal metros require decades of saving, while affordable Southern metros and military hubs remain within reach AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Saving for a down payment remains one of the biggest barriers to homeownership in the U.S., even as housing market...