So far in 2026, home prices in the Tri-Cities have been on the edge of setting a new high record. Interest rates have gone up since the Iran war started in late February. For many, the only path to buying a home involves sacrifice.
But when the rubber meets the road, what are buyers giving up on the journey to settling down in a new home?
Most are sacrificing fun and things that bring joy. That's according to data from the National Assn. of Realtors 2026 Generational Trends Report, which surveyed more than 6,000 people across the country who bought a home between July 2024 and June 2025.
Here are the top five things buyers had to sacrifice to afford a home.
- Spending on luxury or non-essential items: 24%
- Spending on entertainment: 18%
- Spending on clothes: 14%
- Cancelled vacation plans: 10%
- Made minimum payments on bills: 7%
Other things buyers did to afford their home include getting a second job, selling a car or deciding not to buy one, and moving in with family or friends to avoid paying rent.
And what's interesting is that those top five sacrifices are pretty much uniform across all age groups. Have a look...
As you can see on the bottom line, 64% of all buyers didn't need to make any sacrifices. But, more than half of buyers below 45 years old had to make some kind of sacrifice.
If you did, too, for your last home purchase...you're not alone.
-Cari
