WHAT OUR HOME BUYERS TOLD US AND WHAT WE DID TO FIX IT

WHAT OUR BUYERS TOLD US AND WHAT WE DID TO FIX IT

What homebuyers said stresses them out most — and how Jon DeBellevue Realtor and Glades and Bay Construction are changing the experience

One in three recent buyers cried along the way, and the share was highest among first-time buyers

Written by Jon DeBellevue Realtor & Glades and Bay Construction

October 22, 2026

Key Takeaways

• About 1 in 4 recent buyers (24%) found homebuying very or extremely stressful, and 64% said it was at least somewhat stressful.

• The typical buyer spent two to three months searching before buying, and 17% searched for six months or more.

• Jon DeBellevue Realtor and Glades and Bay Construction

  provide seamless guidance and expertly built homes to make the process easier, from transparent pricing to personalized support from start to finish.

Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most people make, and for many it is also one of the most draining. About 1 in 4 recent buyers (24%) described the experience as very or extremely stressful, according to industry consumer trends research. Another 41% called it somewhat stressful, bringing the share who felt at least some strain to 64%, in line with previous years.

The findings echo earlier research from the American Psychological Association. Its Stress in America survey found that 65% of U.S. adults named housing costs as a significant source of stress, placing it among the top worries Americans reported. "Buying a home asks people to make a huge financial decision, on a deadline, with incomplete information," industry housing experts note. "That combination is what can turn a milestone into a burden."

First-time buyers carry more of the load, even as their ranks thin: they made up 42% of buyers in 2026, down from 45% last year and a peak of 50% in 2023. About 27% of them reported the highest levels of strain, compared with 22% of repeat buyers.

For many, the pressure ends in tears. About 1 in 3 buyers (34%) said they cried during the process, including 44% of first-time buyers and 25% of repeat buyers.

Surprise costs, loan hurdles and rising rates weigh on buyers

Buying a home comes with charges beyond the purchase price. The survey asked about five common ones: loan origination fees, appraisal costs, state or local title transfer taxes, title insurance or title search fees, and closing fees.Nearly all buyers (91%) said they did not fully expect to pay at least one of them. The biggest surprise was the loan origination fee, a charge lenders collect for processing a mortgage, which 66% did not fully expect. First-timers were the most exposed: 72% did not fully expect that fee, versus 63% of repeat buyers, and 51% said final closing costs came in above expectations, compared with 37% of repeat buyers.

Budgeting is also hard for many first-time buyers. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said they thought they could afford more home than they ultimately could, compared with 14% of repeat buyers. The cost of getting in is also climbing: first-time buyers put down a median 10% of the purchase price as their downpayment in the year ending June 2025, matching the highest level recorded since 1989, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That was up from 9% a year earlier.

Buyers are likely putting down more because it reduces monthly payments, which are rising due to higher prices and mortgage rates. But it’s not required (FHA loans allow as little as 3.5% down).

Getting a loan adds its own pressure. About 22% of mortgaged buyers reported being denied financing at least once before getting approved, including 32% of Gen Z buyers, though self-reported denials tend to run higher than those recorded in federal mortgage data. Competition adds to the strain: about 45% of buyers submitted two or more offers.

The backdrop has only gotten tougher since the survey ended. Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates continue to rise, to 7.4%, up from 6.3% a year ago, according to Freddie Mac. Even before that climb, fewer buyers were locking in cheap money: 39% of mortgaged buyers said their rate was below 5%, down from 45% a year earlier.

Buying a home is especially hard on people living in the western part of the United States. Half of all buyers in the West, counting first-timers and repeat buyers together, said they cried during the process, well above the shares in the Northeast (35%), Midwest (33%) and South (27%). The survey did not ask why, but a lot of that could be because buying a home in the West is more expensive. The median existing single-family home in the West sold for $637,900 in the second quarter, compared with $547,200 in the Northeast, $380,000 in the South and $340,800 in the Midwest,according to NAR. Western buyers were also the most likely to say wildfire risk influenced where they shopped (34%,versus 18% to 31% elsewhere), another factor to weigh.

The search itself can drag on: the typical buyer spent two to three months searching before buying, and 17% searched for six months or more. "Nobody gets to practice buying a home, and even people who have done it before are making a six- to seven-figure decision with a lot of moving parts," market experts share. "It's the uncertainty, more than any single fee or deadline, that wears people down."

Jon DeBellevue Realtor and Glades and Bay Construction

are working to make the process easier

Jon DeBellevue Realtor and Glades and Bay Construction have built a streamlined, client-first approach around the exact moments when buyers lose their footing—starting with complete transparency around what they can afford and the quality built into every home.

• Clear and Realistic Budgeting: We help buyers align their financial profile, credit standing, and current market rates so there are never any unexpected financial shocks at the closing table. When you work with experienced professionals, you understand all projected taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and closing costs upfront.

• Direct Answers and Expert Guidance: You don't have to piece together answers across multiple tabs and calculators. Our team provides clear, plain-language guidance on whether a property fits your financial goals,how construction quality compares, and what your next steps should be.

• Seamless Milestones from Search to Closing: From setting an accurate budget to finding the ideal property,submitting competitive offers, and finalizing the closing, our personalized hub and dedicated support walk you through every step of the journey.

• Trusted Local Expertise: For the more than 80% of buyers who want a trusted guide, our team brings years of verified local market knowledge, dedicated client reviews, and specialized resources for first-time buyers looking into down payment assistance and loan programs.

• Advocating for a Smarter Market: We continually champion simpler, more transparent real estate and construction processes—advocating for electronic document processing, clear notices, and plain-language lending terms to help cut unnecessary fees and confusion.

"Nobody expects buying a home to be effortless," says the team 

"But certainty builds confidence, and our goal is for every buyer to get to the closing table without surprises — confident they've made the right decision for themselves and their family."