{"id":84077,"date":"2026-02-24T05:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/?p=84077"},"modified":"2026-02-23T14:19:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T22:19:28","slug":"struggle-to-pay-housing-gen-z","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/struggle-to-pay-housing-gen-z\/","title":{"rendered":"Half of Americans Struggle to Pay Rent or Mortgage, With Gen Z Hit Hardest"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong><i>A higher share of Americans struggle to afford housing than last spring, according to a Redfin survey.<\/i><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong><i>The most common sacrifices Americans make to afford housing are eating out less and skipping vacations.<\/i><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong><i>Some respondents are also delaying medical treatments to make rent or mortgage payments.\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong><i>Zooming in on Gen Zers, they make sacrifices including selling belongings, working side hustles, and moving in with their parents to afford housing.\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roughly half (49%) of U.S. residents struggle to afford their regular rent or mortgage payments, according to a recent Redfin survey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"datawrapper-vis-Xwu3y\" style=\"min-height: 563px;\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\" defer src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Xwu3y\/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\" data-target=\"#datawrapper-vis-Xwu3y\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Xwu3y\/full.png\" alt=\"Gen Zers Most Likely to Struggle With Housing Payments (Grouped column chart)\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We consider survey respondents to struggle with housing payments if they selected \u201cI struggle greatly to afford them,\u201d \u201cI regularly struggle, but sometimes okay,\u201d or \u201cI sometimes struggle, but generally okay.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please see the end of this report for more on methodology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s difficult for many Americans to afford housing because housing costs are high. The median U.S. home-sale price and average mortgage rates were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/housing-supply-falls-november-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">historically high<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in November, when this survey was fielded, though they were not at record highs. Homebuyers need to earn <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/homebuying-affordability-improving-2026\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$111,000 per year<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to afford the typical U.S. home, about $25,000 more than the median household income.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s particularly difficult for Gen Zers to afford housing because they haven\u2019t yet reached their peak earning years and haven\u2019t had much time to save for a down payment or monthly rent or mortgage payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBuyers 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,\u201d said <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/real-estate-agents\/desiree-bourgeois\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desiree Bourgeois<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/premier\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redfin Premier<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> agent in Detroit.\u00a0 \u201cI recently met a young couple hunting for a house in the $300,000 range. They\u2019re 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\u2019s challenging to enter the market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Homeowners and Renters Are Borrowing Money, Skipping Meals to Afford Housing Payments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More than one in three\u00a0 (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\u2019s followed by taking no or fewer vacations (34%).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roughly one in six (17%) people work additional hours at their job to afford housing, and nearly one in six (16%) report selling belongings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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\u00a0 a side hustle, and 15% have moved in with their parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/homeownership-rate-by-generation-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one-quarter (27.1%)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of Gen Zers own their home, compared to more than half of millennials and more than 70% of Gen Xers and baby boomers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>There are a few bright spots. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/housing-market-predictions-2026\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">improve more<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the coming year as mortgage rates stay <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freddiemac.com\/pmms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">closer to 6%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than 7%, home-price growth loses steam, and wages increase faster than housing costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"6\"><b>35% of Gen Zers Skip Restaurants to Afford Housing<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><b>All<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Gen Z<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Millennial<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Gen X<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Baby boomer<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ate out at restaurants less often<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">39%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">35%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">37%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">43%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Took no or fewer vacations<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">34%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">33%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">37%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worked additional hours\/shifts at my job<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borrowed money from friends\/family that I will pay back<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sold my belongings<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dipped into retirement savings<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">21%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skipped meals completely<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delayed or skipped healthcare\/medical treatments<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Received money from friends\/family that is not expected to be paid back<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worked a side hustle such as Uber driver or food delivery<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worked an extra job regular job<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moved in with parents<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">0%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moved in with other family members<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moved in with roommates<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decided against or delayed having a child<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">0%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slept in car<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postponed getting a divorce or separation<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slept in homeless shelter<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I had to give up my pet(s)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moved in with a romantic partner<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gave up or reduced college savings for their kids<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moved in with my grown children<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enrolled my child(ren) in a low-rated school<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">0%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b>Methodology<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">+\/-1.9\u00a0 percentage points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The survey asked all respondents the following question: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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? <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Respondents could select all that apply from a list of sacrifices\/changes; the full list is in the table in this report.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We compare some results to a May 2025 Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos survey, fielded to 4,000 U.S. residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/news\/questionnaire-redfin-survey-november-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">full survey questionnaire<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for questions referenced in this report.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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.\u00a0 Zooming in on Gen Zers, they make sacrifices including [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13153,"featured_media":84081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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