I currently rent a room in a shared house as a single young adult. I’m working toward buying my first home, but based on today’s prices and what I can realistically save, it will likely take me another 3–5 years to put together a down payment for a basic starter home. What makes this feel discouraging is watching home prices rise year after year. Even when I’m making steady progress, it feels like the finish line keeps moving and homeownership becomes less attainable. I’m not looking for a large house. My goal is a modest, “basic” home that would give my future family stability—something we can afford, put roots down in, and be part of a community. I wish there were more smaller, entry-level homes available to buy, because right now the cost of real estate makes that kind of first step extremely difficult.