U.S. Homeowners Say American Dream of Homeownership Eroding, Survey Finds

A June 2026 survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners conducted by Hometap shows growing skepticism about the American Dream of homeownership. While 56% still associate homeownership with “stability,” half of respondents describe the dream with negative terms – 27% say it is “eroding” and 24% say it is “broken.” Only 18% believe homeownership has fully delivered on its promise, with 45% saying it has partially delivered and 36% saying it has largely fallen short.

The sentiment varies by generation. Baby boomers are the most likely to label the dream “eroding” (38%), whereas millennials are the most likely to call it “broken” (26%). Perceptions of homeownership as an “investment” rose from 19% to 27%, while the view of it as a “burden” doubled from 3% to 6%. The findings suggest a shift from viewing homeownership solely as a path to wealth toward seeing it as a mixed‑feelings necessity.