Michael Carr Realtor

Homeownership remains one of the most reliable paths to building wealth in America, but access is narrowing. Home prices have risen faster than incomes, the typical first-time buyer is now 40 years old (up from 30 in 1990), and saving for a down payment takes more than twice as long as it did before the pandemic.

Homeowners are 1.3 times more likely than renters to pass assets to the next generation, meaning delays in buying don't just affect individuals, they compound across generations. These barriers fall hardest on households already facing long-standing wealth disparities rooted in historical discrimination.