A cornerstone of the American dream is drifting out of reach.
The estimated number of first-time homebuyers in the US dropped to a little more than 1.1 million in 2024, according to data from the National Association of Realtors shared with the Guardian: the lowest level since the NAR started tracking new buyers, in 1989.
Economic instability is keeping the housing market at a standstill, with the number of new home owners at its lowest point in three decades. How did we get here?
