Hometap Survey Finds Half of Homeowners Call the American Homeownership Dream "Eroding" or "Broken" Following its 250th Birthday

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey from Hometap, the Boston-based financial technology company pioneering home equity financing solutions, finds that as the country marks its 250th birthday, most homeowners still believe in the promise of homeownership, but are increasingly skeptical that the system built around it is actually delivering.

To understand whether that belief still holds as the country marks 250 years, Hometap surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners about the moment of purchase, the experience of ownership over time, what this milestone represents to them, and what it means for the next generation. The results show a population that hasn't given up on the dream, but is running low on confidence that it still works as it once did, especially among the generation that arguably benefited from it the most.

“Off the heels of our Nation’s 250th anniversary, there is one thing all Americans can agree upon: the cost of purchasing and maintaining a home has often felt out of reach. While homeownership hasn't stopped paying off financially, the rising costs are making it harder to own a home and manage other life priorities and needs," said Jeffrey Glass, CEO of Hometap. “A home can be worth more on paper every year and still feel like it's working against you day to day. The gap between rising home values and the ability to afford one's life is exactly what's eroding homeowner confidence."

Hometap's survey findings reveal a homeownership landscape shaped by cautious optimism and growing generational strain:

• The dream isn't dead, but it hasn't fully delivered, either: Just 18% of respondents say homeownership has fully delivered on its role as a cornerstone of the American Dream, while 45% say it has only partially delivered and 36% believe it has largely or completely fallen short. This compares to a Hometap study released last year which found that three out of four homeowners (76%) still consider owning a home part of the American Dream, even amid rising costs and financial stress.

• Half of homeowners describe the dream in negative terms: When asked to describe the American Dream in a single word, "Evolving" led overall at 32%, but "Eroding" (27%) and "Broken" (24%) together accounted for half of all responses. Despite this, 45% believe owning a home made it easier to pursue the life they wanted.

• Baby boomers have the least confidence in homeownership, despite benefiting the most from it: Boomers are the only generation whose top word for the American Dream is "Eroding" (38%), and they are the least likely of any generation to say homeownership fully delivered (14%). They are also the most worried about the toll it could take on their own retirement: 62% say they're concerned they'll need to tap retirement savings before they can help their kids become homeowners, compared to 51% of millennials.

• Parental help is now seen as a requirement, not a bonus, but most parents can't provide it: 61% of homeowners agree the wealth gap in homeownership has grown so large that parental support is becoming a requirement, a view shared almost equally across millennials (62%), Gen X (63%), and boomers (62%). Yet only 40% say they actually have the resources to help.

"We assume the generation that paid off their homes is the one with financial security," said Katie, an Arizona homeowner. "But having equity and being able to use it are two very different things, and that gap is where a lot of us get stuck."

Read the full report here.

Methodology
Hometap surveyed 1,000 U.S. homeowners ages 18+, balanced to Census data, through AYTM (Ask Your Target Market) in June 2026.

About Hometap

Founded in 2017, Hometap is a Boston-based fintech company on a mission to make homeownership less stressful and more accessible. Starting with its industry-leading home equity investment product, the company has helped over 26,000 homeowners across the U.S. access their home equity without taking on additional monthly payments or selling their home. Hometap expanded its suite of innovative financial products and services in 2022, introducing a centralized dashboard that enables homeowners to easily track their home equity, receive guidance and support from experts, and protect and grow the value of their home. Learn more at hometap.com.