Hometap

09/07/2026

For San Diego homeowners Garen and Nate, owning a home can be overwhelming. Like many of the homeowners we spoke to, they always knew they wanted to own a home — but once they were in, the challenges didn't exactly stop. In our latest survey, we found that 45.1% of homeowners say homeownership has only partially delivered on its role as a cornerstone of the American Dream.

They still see homeownership as a milestone, and they're now entered for a chance to win $25,000 toward their home, just for chatting with us about how they feel. Garen already knows where that money would go — a brand-new kitchen.

Stay tuned for our winner reveal, and get deep into the data from our latest survey here.

https://bit.ly/4i0EA4C

09/04/2026

Hometap hit the streets to ask what homeownership is really like as America turned 250 — and some answers surprised us. Los Angeles homeowner and economist Efren didn't think homeownership defined the American Dream, but he agreed with many of the homeowners we chatted with: whether or not you see it as part of the dream, owning and maintaining a home in America today is a challenge.

For Efren, owning a home is still a point of pride, and it brings him plenty of peace of mind. He's now entered in our contest to win $25,000 to reinvest in his properties and better secure his future.

Want to see if Efren wins? Follow along, and read more about our latest survey — where we get deep in the data about owning a home in America, 250 years in.

https://bit.ly/4zIyOe5

09/03/2026

Planning a renovation is an exciting chapter in a homeowner’s journey, but it can also come with its fair share of frustrations — especially when trying to calculate the rate of return.

Plenty of renovations are worth doing purely because they’ll improve your day-to-day quality of life, but its important to explore which ones drive the most for your wallet and your lifestyle.

Exterior work tends to return more than interior work, and it can also cost less. This includes entry doors, garage doors, siding, and decks — the projects that change what people see first.

Higher end interior remodels tend to return less. The more personal the choices, the less likely the next person will find value in them. A kitchen you love and a kitchen that appraises well may not be the same.

Roof, windows, systems that keep your home running can be good investments. They might not be glamorous, but they have value down the road.

You don’t have to renovate only for resale purposes. If you’re working on your forever home, livability is its own return. Just go in knowing which projects are for the house and which are for you, and budget accordingly.

Read more renovation resources at the link in bio.

09/03/2026

"Insurance is way more expensive than it was when my parents were coming up."

For Christopher, owning a home is still part of the American Dream — but that doesn't mean it's getting any easier. He talked to us about how daily expenses keep climbing, making that dream a little harder to reach for Americans today.

We spoke to Christopher and other homeowners just like him to hear how they're really feeling about homeownership, the American Dream, and how they're making it all work as the country celebrates its 250th birthday. He's now entered to win $25,000 to put back into his home — so he can enjoy more fulfilling years in his space, and maybe even update his kitchen.

Follow along to see if Christopher takes home the prize, and hear what homeowners across the country had to say in our survey.

https://bit.ly/4iBaFjv

09/01/2026

We surveyed 1,000 homeowners about the American Dream — whether it still holds up, and if so, who it's holding up for. The answers from Baby boomers surprised us.

They're the generation that built the most wealth through owning a home, but they're also the hardest on it. Asked to describe the dream in a single word, "eroding" was their top answer at 38% — the only generation where the most common response was a negative one. And only 14% of Baby boomers say homeownership has fully delivered on what it promised.

It's not uncommon to assume that Baby boomers are the most content with their financial future, yet our findings tells a different story. 62.5% worry they'll need their retirement savings before they're able to help their kids buy a home — a higher share than Millennials, at 51.4%.

The most surprising finding? 69.2% have never thought about their home equity as something that could help someone in their family buy a home. The largest pool of housing wealth in the country isn't being utilized as a tool to build wealth across generations.

Want the full breakdown of our survey data? Access it below: https://bit.ly/4xufj7v

08/31/2026

Our survey about where homeownership stands as part of the American Dream was so interesting that we hit the streets of NYC, Miami, and LA to hear even more straight from homeowners.

They all entered our contest to win $25,000 to invest in their home. Follow along to see who wins — and hear what homeowners across the country had to say in our survey.

https://bit.ly/45PdcPL

08/29/2026

To celebrate 250 years of the American Dream, we surveyed homeowners across the country and then we went to three cities to interview them about how they’re feeling.

We asked people in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles how they’re feeling about homeownership today — and they entered for a chance to win $25,000 toward their home.

Follow to see who wins, and check the link in bio for what homeowners had to say in our latest survey.

https://bit.ly/4iyaDZI

08/28/2026

Did you know that 68% of homeowners say they feel overwhelmed by home maintenance?

Homeownership is a major accomplishment. But between unexpected repairs, rising costs, and the seemingly never-ending to-do list, it's natural to feel stretched.

Here are a few things that can help:
📌 Create a budget specifically for homeownership costs. Not just your mortgage payment — but insurance, taxes, utilities, and maintenance.
📌 Build an emergency fund based on past spending, so unexpected expenses don't derail your plans a second time.
📌 Keep a maintenance calendar with weekly, monthly, and annual expenses built in.

Small, consistent habits can make a big difference in how homeownership feels. Read our full blog here for more tips: https://bit.ly/40W0cFs

08/27/2026

Just because you settled down, doesn't mean life will.

You find the home, put down roots, start building a life. Then the HVAC breaks. Or the medical bills show up. Or your oldest is suddenly holding a diploma instead of a basketball.

Through all of it, your home's been sitting on something useful: the equity you've already built. No monthly payments. No impact to your mortgage rate. Just what you need, when you need it.

It's your home. Tap into it.

Tap into your home equity to cover renovations, debt, or whatever c...

08/26/2026

As part of America's 250th anniversary, we ran a survey on homeownership and the American Dream — then hit the streets of New York, Miami, and Los Angeles to ask real homeowners how they're feeling. They all entered for a chance to win $25,000 to invest in their home.

Follow along to see who wins, and read more about how homeowners are feeling 250 years in: https://bit.ly/4zBbEXf