10/17/2026
Nearly 15 years. Thatās how long Zillow says it typically takes to save 20% down and then reach the point where owning costs less than renting.
But that number assumes two things: a mid-priced home and a full 20% down payment. Change one and the timeline gets shorter. Change both and it can shrink fast.
For buyers who think homeownership is a decade or more away, this is the conversation that reframes everything. š”