"Homebuyers have to make a compromise along the way, and often it's the age or the condition of the home," she said.
The survey found that the median age of owner-occupied homes in the U.S. is about 40 years old.
A mistake, however, is spending your entire reserve of savings for the down payment and ending up "house poor," Ostrowski said.
In 2023, 46% of homeowners used cash from savings to cover home improvement projects, according to Angi.com.
On average, there are three offers for every home that's listed for sale, Lautz said.
Persons:
Jessica Lautz, Lautz, Ostrowski, you've, They're, who's
Organizations:
National Association of Realtors, Survey, U.S . Census
Locations:
U.S