06/22/2026
When you’re renting (or you moved back in with family), it can feel like buying is something you do after you’re fully ready.
But buying is one of those “time does the heavy lifting” moves.
This Realtor.com stat isn’t saying everyone gets the same outcome. It’s saying starting earlier is often linked to higher net worth later because you’re giving yourself more years for:
- Equity to build
- Principal to get paid down
- And your housing payment to work for YOU instead of just covering a landlord’s mortgage
If you’re a first-time buyer on the fence, the real question isn’t:
“Is the market or even the house perfect?”
It’s: “What would change for me if I owned for the next 5-10 years instead of renting?”
And if you’re thinking, “I’m not ready,” that’s usually not a no.
It’s a checklist.
For those with adult kids who may benefit from seeing this: Feel free to share this post! And if they want, we’ll help them map the simplest path from not ready to ready enough without guessing where rates go in a zero-pressure and stress-free phone call.