- A higher share of Americans struggle to afford housing than last spring, according to a Redfin survey.
- The most common sacrifices Americans make to afford housing are eating out less and skipping vacations.
- Some respondents are also delaying medical treatments to make rent or mortgage payments.
- Zooming in on Gen Zers, they make sacrifices including selling belongings, working side hustles, and moving in with their parents to afford housing.
Roughly half (49%) of U.S. residents struggle to afford their regular rent or mortgage payments, according to a recent Redfin survey.
Gen Zers are more likely than older generations to struggle with housing payments. About two-thirds (67%) of Gen Zers struggle to afford their rent or mortgage, compared with just over half of millennials and Gen Xers (53% and 54%, respectively) and 36% of baby boomers.
These survey results in this report are from a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in November 2025, fielded to 4,000 U.S. residents. We consider survey respondents to struggle with housing payments if they selected “I struggle greatly to afford them,” “I regularly struggle, but sometimes okay,” or “I sometimes struggle, but generally okay.” Please see the end of this report for more on methodology.
Overall, Americans are more likely to struggle to make housing payments than they were last spring. In a comparable Redfin survey conducted in May, 44% of U.S. residents said they struggle to afford their mortgage or rent payment, compared with nearly half today.
It’s difficult for many Americans to afford housing because housing costs are high. The median U.S. home-sale price and average mortgage rates were historically high in November, when this survey was fielded, though they were not at record highs. Homebuyers need to earn $111,000 per year to afford the typical U.S. home, about $25,000 more than the median household income.
It’s particularly difficult for Gen Zers to afford housing because they haven’t yet reached their peak earning years and haven’t had much time to save for a down payment or monthly rent or mortgage payments.
“Buyers have been laying low for the last year or so because housing costs are high and the economy is uncertain. Young people are particularly concerned about job security and tariffs, and how those things will impact their pocketbooks and ability to make their housing payments,” said Desiree Bourgeois, a Redfin Premier agent in Detroit. “I recently met a young couple hunting for a house in the $300,000 range. They’re worried about whether the country is going to enter a recession, and whether they may lose their jobs or see their home value go down. There are very few first-time buyers out there; the cost of housing is so high that it’s challenging to enter the market.”
Homeowners and Renters Are Borrowing Money, Skipping Meals to Afford Housing Payments
More than one in three (39%) Americans who struggle to afford housing are eating out at restaurants less often to make their monthly payments, making this the most common sacrifice. It’s followed by taking no or fewer vacations (34%).
Roughly one in six (17%) people work additional hours at their job to afford housing, and nearly one in six (16%) report selling belongings.
Some Americans are also making more consequential sacrifices: 15% skip meals entirely to afford housing, 14% have delayed medical treatments, 4% have delayed having children, and 4% have given up pets.
More than one-third (35%) of Gen Zers who struggle to afford housing report nixing restaurants, and 18% have skipped meals entirely. Among the other sacrifices Gen Zers are making 20% have sold their belongings, 18% have worked a side hustle, and 15% have moved in with their parents.
Affordability struggles make it difficult for many young Americans to make their existing rental or mortgage payments, and they also make it difficult for young renters to break into the housing market. Just over one-quarter (27.1%) of Gen Zers own their home, compared to more than half of millennials and more than 70% of Gen Xers and baby boomers.
There are a few bright spots. The Gen Z and millennial homeownership rates are slowly ticking up as time goes on, with slightly more young Americans becoming homeowners in 2025 than the year before as affordability improved marginally. We expect affordability to improve more in the coming year as mortgage rates stay closer to 6% than 7%, home-price growth loses steam, and wages increase faster than housing costs.
| 35% of Gen Zers Skip Restaurants to Afford Housing
Which of the following, if any, changes or sacrifices did you make in the past year to afford your monthly housing costs, including mortgage or rent, insurance, parking heating/cooling/electricity or homeownership association dues? Results reported are among those who struggle to afford housing. |
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| All | Gen Z | Millennial | Gen X | Baby boomer | |
| Ate out at restaurants less often | 39% | 35% | 37% | 40% | 43% |
| Took no or fewer vacations | 34% | 32% | 33% | 32% | 37% |
| Worked additional hours/shifts at my job | 17% | 18% | 22% | 19% | 6% |
| Borrowed money from friends/family that I will pay back | 16% | 21% | 20% | 14% | 10% |
| Sold my belongings | 16% | 20% | 17% | 16% | 10% |
| Dipped into retirement savings | 15% | 8% | 12% | 17% | 21% |
| Skipped meals completely | 15% | 18% | 16% | 14% | 11% |
| Delayed or skipped healthcare/medical treatments | 14% | 11% | 15% | 16% | 12% |
| Received money from friends/family that is not expected to be paid back | 13% | 16% | 15% | 12% | 10% |
| Worked a side hustle such as Uber driver or food delivery | 12% | 18% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
| Worked an extra job regular job | 12% | 16% | 16% | 11% | 5% |
| Moved in with parents | 6% | 15% | 8% | 4% | 0% |
| Moved in with other family members | 6% | 9% | 8% | 3% | 3% |
| Moved in with roommates | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 4% |
| Decided against or delayed having a child | 4% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 0% |
| Slept in car | 4% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
| Postponed getting a divorce or separation | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 2% |
| Slept in homeless shelter | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 1% |
| I had to give up my pet(s) | 4% | 6% | 5% | 3% | 1% |
| Moved in with a romantic partner | 4% | 7% | 5% | 2% | 1% |
| Gave up or reduced college savings for their kids | 3% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 1% |
| Moved in with my grown children | 2% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Enrolled my child(ren) in a low-rated school | 2% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 0% |
Methodology
The survey results in this report are from a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in November 2025, fielded to 4,000 U.S. residents.
This report focuses on the respondents who said they struggle to afford housing. The results for this combined group of survey respondents have a credibility interval of +/-1.9 percentage points.
The survey asked all respondents the following question: Which of the following, if any, changes or sacrifices did you make in the past year to afford your monthly housing costs, including mortgage or rent, insurance, parking, heating/cooling/electricity or HOA dues? Respondents could select all that apply from a list of sacrifices/changes; the full list is in the table in this report.
We compare some results to a May 2025 Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos survey, fielded to 4,000 U.S. residents.
Here’s the full survey questionnaire for questions referenced in this report.
