Only 25% of Americans who don’t own homes expect to buy one within five years — the lowest level Gallup has recorded in more than a decade. Just 28% expect to buy within 10 years, while 45% say they don’t see homeownership in the foreseeable future. The early-April poll finds 67% of Americans view now as a bad time to buy, including majorities of both Republicans and Democrats.
Fewer Americans Plan To Buy Homes Soon, Gallup Poll Shows Rising Pessimism
A chart showing the homebuying intentions of US non-homeowners, based on a survey.
Only a quarter of Americans who do not currently own a home say they expect to buy one within the next five years — the lowest share since Gallup first asked this question more than a decade ago.
According to the Gallup poll conducted in early April, just 28% of non-owners expect to buy a home within 10 years, while 45% say they do not see themselves buying a home in the foreseeable future. The results add to broader signs of economic unease, with many respondents reporting concerns about the affordability of gasoline and other essentials and expressing pessimism about the job market.
Why Outlook Has Darkened
Although the White House highlighted a drop in mortgage interest rates earlier in the year, recent tensions in the Middle East linked to Iran have complicated the economic picture and market confidence. As a result, 67% of Americans now say it is a bad time to buy a house. That view is held by a majority of both parties: 55% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 76% of Democrats.
What This Means
Low homeowner purchase intentions suggest affordability and broader economic concerns are keeping many Americans on the sidelines of the housing market.
The Gallup findings underline challenges for the housing market and policymakers: even with softer mortgage rates, worries about costs, job stability, and geopolitical uncertainty are weighing on prospective buyers.
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