{"id":23041,"date":"2026-04-22T13:15:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/borrowingnexus.com\/?p=23041"},"modified":"2026-04-22T13:16:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:16:27","slug":"she-wants-her-son-to-say-i-grew-up-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borrowingnexus.com\/?p=23041","title":{"rendered":"She Wants Her Son To Say “I Grew Up Here” |"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Illustration by Clay Laucella\/Bankrate\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Asia Ore wants to be a homeowner, just not right now. The 28-year-old has other priorities: adjusting to life as a new mother and widow, chipping away at her student loans and charting the course of her career with her new master\u2019s degree. Someday, she wants to buy a home on a strong financial foundation for herself and her baby boy.<\/p>\n

Setting the scene on homebuying\u00a0<\/h2>\n

The path to homeownership is getting longer, and Ore isn\u2019t the only one lacing up for a further walk than originally planned. Today, Bankrate reports the median first-time homebuyer age is 40 years old \u2014 a record high. Inventory, housing prices and borrowing rates can make homeownership feel farther off for some Americans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sometimes, it makes sense for people like Ore to prioritize immediate financial goals ahead of a mortgage. After all, buying a home is just as much of a life decision as it is a financial one. The \u201cwait and save\u201d approach, like the median first-time buyer age, is on the rise. But, as Ben Clark, owner of Home Buyer Representation Inc, and president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, points out, waiting to buy a home can mean missing out on the value of appreciation.<\/p>\n

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\n Success is no longer defined by owning a home in your 30s.<\/q>
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\n \u2014 Liz Kishel, CFP\u00ae, CDFA\u00ae
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Behind her homebuying philosophy<\/h2>\n

Ore first moved to Covington, Ga., when her husband was stationed there. Sadly, he passed away in 2025 but Ore chose to stay in the area with her infant son. They currently rent a home, which she views as a stepping stone rather than a permanent stay. \u201cI\u2019m still early in my career, so I don\u2019t know where it is going to take me,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Having already navigated significant life changes, Ore is taking a slower, steadier and more disciplined approach to ownership. Her plan? Get her student loans in a good position first, then get serious about a down payment. \u201cI hear a lot of people saying you can just put 3.5% down, but honestly, I want to put down 20%,\u201d she says. Beyond that, she also hopes to prepay some of her monthly payments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rushing into homeownership, she worries, would compromise her and her son\u2019s quality of life. If a water heater bursts or the roof leaks, she\u2019d want to be able to pay for it without having to resort to a six-month ramen noodle diet. Ore wants her budget to have room for both emergencies and joy. \u201cI don\u2019t want to have to save up for two years to take my son to Disney World,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

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\n An expert’s take
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\n Liz Kishel, CFP\u00ae, CDFA\u00ae and financial advisor at Modera Wealth Management, believes that while owning a home can be a valuable asset, it\u2019s not the only marker of financial success. \u201cSuccess looks more like aligning finances with your current season of life\u201d than rushing into a long-term commitment, she explains. The financial strain of a home purchase can be particularly heavy for those aiming for a 20% down payment, which Kishel notes can \u201cmajorly constrict cash flow.\u201d In the middle of a significant life shift, maintaining liquidity can be a meaningful step toward building long term equity.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Her homeownership dream<\/h2>\n

Though Ore has other things on her plate, homeownership remains her financial north star. \u201cI want my son to be able to say, \u2018I grew up here,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cI want some type of legacy to leave him, but I don\u2019t think I should have to do it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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