Buyers Have Regrets About Recent Home Purchases

Purchasing a home is still considered a major goal for most Americans but a survey of recent homebuyers by real estate agency Clever Real Estate shows the path to homeownership isn’t always easy. In fact, many buyers have regrets about their recent home purchases. Over the past few years, urgency caused by growing home prices and a lack of inventory caused buyers to make rushed decisions, with 46% of recent buyers—including 58% of first-time buyers—saying the process of purchasing a home was more stressful than expected.

Regardless of these concerns, 87% of recent buyers said they are happy they bought when they did as most don’t believe market conditions will majorly improve in the near future. And while many buyers believe home prices are unlikely to drop, more than 60% of those who bought a home in 2025 said they prioritized finding a home at an affordable price point.

High home prices have long made purchasing a home challenging, but with added economic pressure from tariffs and inflation, finding an affordable home is now even more important to many buyers.

About 62% of buyers in 2025 prioritized finding an affordable home — a significant jump from the 48% who said the same in 2024.

The median home price in the U.S. is $416,900, but many buyers can't afford that. About 64% planned to purchase a home that cost less than $400,000, with buyers targeting a median purchase price of $310,000.