Most people think you have to put life on hold until you buy a home. New data shows 71% of aspiring homeowners delay milestones like marriage or having kids just to prioritize homeownership. But buying a home doesn’t have to mean hitting pause on your dreams. With smart financial planning and real estate strategies, you can move toward homeownership while reaching other life goals at the same time. Learn more about financing options at Nadlan.
Why Homeownership is Reshaping Life Timelines
The desire for homeownership has become a powerful force shaping how many people plan their lives. Recent findings from The Coldwell Banker 2025 American Dream Report reveal that 71% of potential buyers are postponing at least one major life event specifically to focus on buying a home first.
This trend is affecting major decisions as people are:
Delaying marriage or having children (18%)
Putting off career changes (17%)
Waiting longer to live independently (16%)
Postponing business ventures (15%)
For Gen Z, the impact is even more dramatic. About 84% of Gen Z aspiring homeowners report delaying at least one significant life decision, with nearly one-third (29%) specifically waiting to have children so they can prioritize buying property first. Many don’t expect to become homeowners until their 40s, pushing other important milestones further into the future.
Jason Waugh, president of Coldwell Banker, explains this reflects the strong belief in real estate as a foundation for long-term stability: “Real estate is an asset class that’s been proven over time to build wealth, even intergenerational wealth. It’s hard to replicate in any other way.”
But why do younger generations feel they must choose homeownership before anything else? Part of the issue stems from misunderstandings about what’s actually required to enter the housing market.
“My experience has been that some folks just aren’t aware of all the options,” Waugh noted. “Like, they hear if you don’t have 20% down, you won’t be a homeowner. That’s simply not true.”
Eight Strategies to Achieve Homeownership Without Putting Life on Hold
Build Your Home-Buying Team Early
Even if you’re years away from making a purchase, connecting with professionals can help align your homeownership goals with other life priorities. A mortgage lender can evaluate your financial standing, suggest realistic price ranges, and identify specific improvements that will have the greatest impact on your borrowing power.
Meanwhile, a real estate agent can familiarize you with neighborhood options and market trends long before you start actively looking at properties. This preparation makes the eventual buying process smoother and helps you make informed decisions about timing other life events.
Create a Flexible Financial Plan
Rigid savings plans often force people to postpone other important goals. Instead, consider setting up a high-yield savings account with separate “buckets” for different objectives: one for your down payment, another for emergency funds, and others for specific milestones like wedding expenses, childcare costs, or education.
By automating transfers with each paycheck, you can steadily grow all these funds simultaneously, even with smaller contributions. Revisiting your plan quarterly allows you to adjust as priorities shift or circumstances change, keeping all your goals moving forward.
Consider Co-ownership Options
For those finding traditional homeownership currently out of reach, co-buying presents a practical alternative. This approach involves obtaining a joint mortgage with family members, friends, or partners to split both upfront costs and monthly payments.
The survey found more than a third of respondents would consider co-buying with family, and a similar number would buy with friends or co-workers. Waugh compares this strategy to buying multi-unit properties: “It’s no different than an individual buying a duplex or triplex, then renting out the other units to offset the mortgage payment. The key is getting into the homeownership market and growing your equity.”
When considering co-ownership, clear communication about future plans is essential. Discuss scenarios like what happens when one owner wants to sell, and put all agreements in writing. Options might include selling shares to other owners, complete buyouts, or rental arrangements that provide income to departing owners.
Redefine Your “Starter Home” Expectations
Your first home purchase doesn’t need to be your forever home. Being flexible about property types can significantly accelerate your timeline to homeownership while preserving resources for other life goals.
Consider condos, townhomes, smaller single-family houses, or properties needing some renovation. These options typically come with lower price tags, allowing you to build equity sooner while maintaining financial flexibility for other priorities like starting a family or changing careers.
Consider Geographic Flexibility
If housing prices in your current location make homeownership seem impossible, expanding your search area might offer solutions. This could mean looking at suburbs with slightly longer commutes or even relocating temporarily to more affordable regions.
The financial benefits extend beyond just housing costs. Areas with lower overall living expenses make it easier to save for multiple goals without sacrificing quality of life. The strategy is to build equity that can later be converted into a down payment in your preferred location.
Some buyers even purchase investment properties in affordable markets while continuing to rent where they currently live. If rental income in the investment area covers mortgage costs, you can build equity without relocating. Just note that mortgage interest rates for investment properties typically run higher than those for primary residences.
Strengthen Your Financial Profile Strategically
Small, targeted financial improvements can dramatically impact your mortgage options. If credit is your challenge, focus on paying down high-interest revolving debt and setting up automatic payments for all bills to avoid missed payments.
For those with high debt-to-income ratios, prioritize reducing your largest monthly payments or consider consolidating debts to lower overall monthly obligations. If income is the limiting factor, look for flexible work opportunities that can supplement your earnings without dominating your schedule.
Each improvement not only brings homeownership closer but also creates financial breathing room for pursuing other important life goals simultaneously.
Sequence Major Milestones Thoughtfully
There’s no universal “right order” for life’s major events. Some people find it makes more sense to start families first and buy homes later when their incomes are more stable. Others might change careers before house hunting to increase their long-term earning potential.
Take time to outline what matters most to you over the next few years. What needs to happen first? Which goals can be pursued simultaneously? What can wait without causing regret? The best sequence is the one that aligns with your personal values and circumstances.
Prepare for a Longer Homeownership Journey
If your timeline to homeownership extends several years, use this period to build a solid financial foundation while still living fully. Focus on establishing an emergency fund, developing consistent credit habits, and creating sustainable savings routines that withstand life’s inevitable surprises.
Then continue pursuing other meaningful experiences and milestones. Travel, advance your career, start your family. A longer path to homeownership simply means you’re building financial readiness while simultaneously achieving other important life goals.
Finding Balance Between Homeownership and Life Fulfillment
Homeownership remains a valuable wealth-building tool and a source of stability for many Americans. But the notion that it must come before all other life milestones deserves reconsideration.
With strategic planning, flexible thinking about housing options, and professional guidance, it’s possible to work toward property ownership while still experiencing life’s other important moments. The key is developing a personalized approach that respects both your financial realities and your desire for a full, balanced life.
For many aspiring homeowners, this balanced perspective offers relief from the pressure to “have it all figured out” before making major life moves. By viewing homeownership as one important goal among many, rather than a prerequisite for everything else, you can create a more integrated approach to life planning that honors all your dreams and aspirations.