Homeownership is something most people aspire to reach when the time is right. Historically, it was a factor of saving up enough for a down payment, finding the right home, and being able to afford the mortgage payment.
The mortgage payment isn’t the expensive part anymore: The ongoing cost of ownership is.
But owning a home still feels worth it. In fact, 94% of buyers don’t regret buying. But the cost of actual ownership is reshaping expectations. Between the aging housing stock, rising repair costs, and the challenge of lining up a credible, capable contractor, plans are changing. Starter homes aren’t starter homes anymore, and 42% of homeowners are staying in those stepping-stone homes longer than they expected to.
These findings come from a recent survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners conducted for the 2025 Renovation Trends Report, which examined how maintenance costs, repairs, and contractor availability are shaping ownership decisions.
Older Housing Stock Is Driving Higher Maintenance Costs
The older a home gets, the higher the general maintenance costs will be. So true is this point that survey results show owners of homes 20 years or older spend about 48% more on high-priority repairs like roof replacements, plumbing system repairs, HVAC equipment service, and electrical upgrades.
This affects younger buyers most of all. The median home in the US is 44 years old, but entry-level homes are historically from older inventory. With purchase prices climbing, there’s less liquidity to borrow from for major repairs after the purchase. If the previous owner has delayed those expensive, high-priority repairs mentioned earlier, the risk is all on the new buyer, and they need to figure out how to pay for them.
How much? Our research shows high-priority repairs carry a median cost of about $4,100 per project. At an average age of 44 years, it’s smart to expect several high-priority repairs within the first few years of ownership.
Critical Repairs Are Expensive—and Often Delayed
Many of the most expensive homeownership costs come from critical system repairs—projects homeowners can’t ignore indefinitely but often delay anyway. The survey found that about 55% of homeowners prioritize structural repairs or major system issues. Repairs or upgrades to roofing, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems are often delayed.
Why are they delayed? Because critical repairs are expensive. Of those that delay their repairs, we found that 58% did so because of the cost of the project. Considering that one of the most common projects, a roof replacement, costs an average of $21,400, it’s easy to see how cost plays a factor.
But here’s the tricky part about delaying repairs due to cost: the longer the homeowner waits, the more expensive the project will be in the long run. Excessive damage, risk, and emergencies can balloon the cost of the repair. The cost of a roof replacement is high enough, but if the homeowner ignores the leaks long enough, they’ll be paying for mold remediation, new insulation, and new drywall to go along with it.
One in Four Homeowners Are Taking on Debt for Maintenance
When “maintenance” still meant small, affordable projects like painting fences, replacing filters, greasing hinges, and patching holes, homeowners often paid out of pocket. But between the high cost of repairs and the fact that so many repairs are critical in nature, many homeowners are covering the cost of maintenance by taking on debt.
The survey found that about 25% of homeowners are using debt to pay for maintenance costs. About 68% of homeowners are dipping into their savings, while 28% are using credit cards. Millennials rank among the top of those most likely to finance a repair with credit.
On one hand, tackling a critical repair with debt allows the homeowner to take care of the issue before it can lead to further issues and expenses. But it’s important to remember that high interest rates pile up and amplify the real cost of those repairs over time. That $4,000 HVAC project can cost thousands more if the homeowner is making minimum payments on a credit card.
Contractor Availability Is Now Part of the Cost Equation
Even when homeowners are prepared to pay for repairs, finding a qualified contractor has become another major obstacle to completing necessary work. The construction industry as a whole is short around 723,000 workers.
Contractor scarcity significantly impacts home maintenance. With fewer experienced professionals available, the cost of labor has increased dramatically. And since there are fewer pros on average job sites, projects take longer, leading to longer scheduling delays. There are also fewer options to turn to for non-urgent repairs.
This isn’t a minor stressor, either. Our research shows that after managing costs (46%), respondents said their top cause of repair-related frustration is finding trustworthy contractors (41%). The cost and scarcity of skilled labor is now a major factor in the cost of homeownership—maybe even more significant than the cost of materials.
Younger Homeowners Are Responding by Doing More Themselves
As repair costs rise and contractor availability tightens, many younger homeowners are responding by taking on more maintenance work themselves. With those factors out of their control, 31% of homeowners say they feel pressure to improve their DIY skills, likely in order to tackle pressing repairs without spending too much or waiting too long.
The drive to DIY is hitting younger homeowners particularly hard. According to our responses, 29% of Gen Z homeowners attempt repairs themselves first, and 28% of millennials right behind them. The overarching factors are clear: labor shortages, contractor trust gaps, and the cost of hiring a repair person.
Respondents reported that they’re more likely to DIY certain projects than others. Among those they’ll tackle are painting (68%), landscaping (60%), and lighting (58%). Projects they’ll gladly hire out? HVAC (83%), roofing (79%), and plumbing (59%).
Younger Owners Are Learning Repairs Online Before Calling Contractors
With so much information available online through a variety of sources, it’s hardly a surprise that the tech-savvy generations are learning about repairs online before calling a contractor. Millennials and Gen Z are turning to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to learn more about their repair, determine if they can handle it, and to successfully assess a bid.
Sixty-four percent of Gen Z and 65% of millennials use YouTube to learn more. Gen Z also uses TikTok and Instagram, with 35% and 28% (respectively) turning to the social media platforms for repair advice. Whether they decide to tackle it themselves or simply learn more about what they’ll be paying for, modern homeowners are clearly looking online for answers first.
Many Homeowners Say They Weren’t Financially Prepared
For many buyers, the biggest surprise about homeownership isn’t the purchase price—it’s what comes afterward. In fact, survey results showed that 52% of homeowners report at least one regret about their homeownership experience, and most of those regrets relate directly to maintenance and repair costs.
Among the most common concerns, 24% of homeowners say they regret not knowing how to make repairs themselves, while 23% say they delayed needed repairs, and another 23% say they didn’t budget enough for ongoing maintenance. These findings suggest that the challenge isn’t simply affordability at the time of purchase, but preparedness for the long-term responsibilities that follow.
Younger homeowners are feeling this gap most sharply. Nearly 69% of Gen Z homeowners report some level of regret, often tied to unexpected maintenance costs or limited experience managing repairs. As a result, the biggest barrier to sustainable homeownership today may not be buying a home in the first place—but being ready to maintain one after move-in day.
The Starter Home Is Becoming a Long-Term Commitment
The concept of the starter home once meant you buy it, move in, become a bit more financially stable, and then sell it and upgrade. But today’s homeowners are looking at their starter homes differently. About 42% of homeowners say they’ve completely changed their expectations for how long they plan to stay in their starter home, likely due to the changes in the economics of ownership.
These days, more homeowners are choosing to stay put rather than move up. According to the survey, 91% of homeowners didn’t plan to sell their homes in 2025, pointing to the rising costs encouraging households to adapt their current spaces rather than relocating. Maintenance expenses are a major factor behind this shift, with 73% of homeowners reporting that upkeep costs have increased over the past three years.
At the same time, concerns about future material price stability are adding uncertainty to renovation planning. Nearly 72% of homeowners say they’re worried tariffs could push costs even higher. Taken together, these pressures are reshaping expectations around mobility and upgrades. For many buyers, the starter home is no longer a short-term stop—it’s becoming a long-term housing anchor.
Maintenance Costs Are Redefining What “Affordable” Means
For today’s homeowners, affordability extends well beyond the purchase price of a home. Aging housing stock, rising repair costs, contractor shortages, and the growing reliance on credit to fund maintenance are reshaping what ownership looks like after move-in day. At the same time, more buyers are developing DIY skills and adjusting expectations about how long they’ll remain in their homes as renovation timelines stretch and costs increase.
Together, these shifts point to a broader change in how Americans experience homeownership. Understanding the long-term realities of maintenance, repairs, and system upgrades before purchasing a home may help buyers make more informed decisions—and build a more sustainable path to ownership in an increasingly complex housing market.
Methodology
- Survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners on repairs, maintenance, and costs
- Fielded February 10 – 11, 2025
- Weighted to reflect U.S. population demographics (age and gender, 18+)
- Margin of error +/- 2% at 95% confidence