Average Portland household needs 16 years to save for a home
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It took the typical Portland household more than twice as long to save for a median home down payment in 2025, according to a Realtor.com analysis.
Why it matters: Coming up with a down payment is one of the biggest barriers to homeownership.
Zoom in: The average Portland household making roughly $99,000 would have to save for 16 years to come up with the $79,000 median down payment, per the analysis.
- The national average was just under seven years, down from 12 years in 2022.
Zoom out: In expensive coastal markets, including San Francisco, San Diego and New York, it can take middle-income households decades to save for a down payment, the real estate site found.
- Meanwhile, some Southern metros and military hubs offer faster paths.
- San Antonio saw the shortest time to save, averaging 1.3 years.
The bottom line: The share of first-time buyers in the U.S. has fallen to a record low as inventory and affordability issues persist, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Many younger people are tapping family money to get a foot in the door.