Personal wealth—savings and assets minus debts—is a central component of household financial security for families at all income levels. Obtaining homeownership is frequently and justifiably viewed as a primary way to build secure and sustainable wealth in the United States, particularly for low- to moderate-income households. Indeed, home equity is the largest source of wealth for most people in the U.S. But the path to owning a home is becoming narrower and more challenging to navigate; while many of today’s renters will eventually build wealth through homeownership, a growing number will not.
