85% of Americans say homeownership is still key to the 'American Dream'—outranking a successful career or getting married

Even with homeownership increasingly out of reach for younger adults, many are putting off major life milestones to afford it.

Owning a home is still a key component of the American Dream, according to 85% of the 3,068 U.S. adults recently surveyed by Coldwell Banker.

When asked what the American Dream means to them personally, respondents ranked homeownership behind only financial security and personal freedom. Among the respondents:

The U.S. median home price has risen by 30% since 2020 to $410,800 according to U.S. Census data. The cost of a 20% down payment alone is roughly equal to the U.S. median household income of $83,730, per the U.S. Census.

Given those costs, it's not surprising that would-be buyers are making sacrifices or holding off on major life decisions to save for a home purchase. Among the 885 aspiring first-time homebuyers surveyed: