I’ve spent 8 years saving to buy a home and I feel like I’m no closer to my goal. Is it time to give up the dream?

Core Insights - The article highlights the challenges faced by individuals like Brett in achieving homeownership due to rising housing prices and mortgage rates, leading to doubts about the effectiveness of saving strategies versus investing [1][2]. Group 1: Homeownership Challenges - Brett has been saving for eight years, accumulating $60,000, but is still only halfway to his goal of a 20% down payment on a $600,000 home [4]. - The median sales price for new single-family houses in the U.S. reached $410,800 in Q2 2025, with significant regional variations, such as $796,700 in the northeast [4]. Group 2: Financial Strategy Concerns - Brett earns $50,000 annually and saves 15% of his income, but is questioning whether he should have invested his savings instead of saving in cash [3][5]. - The article suggests that for short to medium-term savings, such as a home down payment, investing in riskier assets like stocks may not be advisable [5].