In their 20s with three young children, Carencro couple Jordan and Camille described renting as “comfortable, but limiting…a stepping stone.” Jordan is a teacher and Camille stays home with their boys. Though their income is tight, they longed for economic stability and the chance to buy a home to anchor their roots in Acadiana. To do so, they saw building their family economy included renting as the best option as a steppingstone toward home ownership. Connecting to a local realtor and lender who steered them toward a sound purchase and financing decision and away for unduly burdensome debt through special financing programs and grants became a game changer.
National headlines suggest that homeownership has quietly moved out of reach for most 20-somethings. Higher mortgage rates, insurance costs, and grocery bills make the monthly math feel tight. At the same time, rents remain stubborn, and frequent moves can be exhausting. So, are young people actually “stuck” renting?
In Acadiana the median sales price is currently $259,000. While that’s up 3.6% from last year, the local market is one of the most affordable in the country. Even with rising home prices, there were 2,803 homes closed in August, also reflecting a nearly 4% jump from last year. This means that though prices increased, buyers are still buying and activity is steady.
What about mortgage rates? As of September 15, 2025, Mortgage News Daily reported the average 30-year fixed near 6.25%, a new multi-month low after four months of rate decreases. Lower rates expand buying power and nudge some renters off the fence.
Still, affordability pressures are real. By late 2024, the homeownership rate for those under 35 fell to 36.3%, the lowest since 2019, according to Census data summarized by the National Association of Home Builders. That drop reflects higher borrowing costs and thin starter-home supply, not a lack of desire to own.
Before ever even considering a home purchase, Jordan and Camille understood the necessity of good credit. Once they decided to begin the homeownership journey, with their realtor’s guidance, they met with their lender to define their budget and they stuck to it. With a budget set, they began the search and after over a year of searching, the right house hit the market.
Jordan says, “Multiple moving pieces came together. Our realtor had found the house and strongly recommended we take it seriously. She had been along the journey with us and had advised us “No” many times before, so her recommendation weighed heavily on our decision. All of the factors [financing, timing, location, ect] providentially came together by God’s hand.”
They used creative financing, compromise, patience and strategic planning to eventually fulfill their dream. Now they have a vision for their property that reaches out into the next 5-10 years, and potentially longer. “That just can’t happen with renting. Renting is like not being able to see past your nose. Property ownership opens up a whole new vision for the life of the household.”, Jordan says. He views this as life-changing freedom.
Brodie & Megan’s Story
Another young couple, Brodie and Megan, felt “short-term stuck,” thinking they’d need 20% down to buy a home. They are newlyweds and began making their home comfortably in a townhouse in Lafayette. They’d been taking strides toward becoming financially stable, in hopes that they could buy something sooner, rather than later: building up their credit and getting out from an upside down car note, they’ve saved enough for a decent downpayment and even some projects they’d want to do to their imaginary dream home.
After their realtor explained that 20% down was a misconception, she directed them to a lender. In Lafayette, Brodie and Megan were eligible for a program called a “City Second” offering downpayment assistance and FHA financing which only required a 3.5% downpayment. These factors and a well-written offer on a home requesting seller concessions toward closing costs allowed them to preserve some of the money they’d set aside and plan for impending expenses.
Brodie loves the freedom ownership offers. “I enjoy just sitting back and looking around and thinking ‘this is mine. I’ll cut the grass on Saturday. I’ll go say high to Mr. Joe each morning, paint the floors whatever color I want and take care of what I have.’ I get to be thankful for it and try to improve it as well’.
Brodie’s advice to other hopefuls is to save as much as you can by cutting back on frivolous spending temptations like eating out, travel, and other splurges. He also recommends that renting for a time even if it means signing another lease while you’re planning and preparing can be ok – “be patient” he recommends.
Additionally, Brodie advises that scheduling home tours through on online portals can route you away from your preferred lender and stuck working with someone you don’t know. That flows right into his last bit of advice, “Find yourself a great realtor, lender and inspectors who care about you and what you want and can help you find what you need and meld those together.”
Both couples are embracing the joys and the pains of home ownership and see it overall as a blessing and provision for their long-term financial goals. Ridding themselves of the unsettled feeling, they now have the freedom to plan and complete fun projects, make necessary repairs, and really plant roots in Lafayette.
What lenders are seeing
Ben Leonards, a Lafayette mortgage broker at Milestone Mortgage, is blunt about the hurdles to home ownership. Leonards sees the negative press and believes that higher housing costs, student loan debt, and other financial burdens, along with a trend of delaying life events like marriage and homeownership are key factors that deter home ownership.
Leonards often sees a scenario where buyers just starting out are burdened by student loans and high car notes. Ben says, “The only way to combat a lower income is by keeping debts low. Live below your means, if possible.”
Leonards says that if someone earns an average wage in Acadiana, with modest debt, an individual making around $40,000 could afford a home in the $150,000-160,000 range. A couple with an income closer to $67,000 could potentially afford a home in the $250,000 range.
He urges people to carefully consider what they will pay in rent over the course of the next 5 years if they delay purchasing a home. He says, “It’s staggering to think that they could have been building equity in a home they own. Typically it’s about the same price and sometimes even less than the cost of rent!”
Why owning still matters for long-term fruitfulness
In 2022 the median net worth for homeowners was about $396,200 versus $10,400 for renters. That wealth gap implies that homeownership is a crucial step in legacy building. Over the course of time, there has been a steady increase in home values, indicating that homeownership is one of the safest and most impactful investments available.
Living within your means, saving diligently, being generous, and building for the next generation is a call to every Christian. Homeownership can support that: fixed payments that eventually end, space to serve others with hospitality, and the possibility of passing on an asset. As Jordan and Camille put it, they wanted to strengthen their family economy and one day bless their children with an inheritance.
So, are young people “stuck” renting?
Not in Acadiana. The data shows a functioning market with modest price growth, more pending sales, and improving rates. The path to buying is narrower than it was a few years ago, but it’s still open, especially when buyers ignore myths about down payments, prepare their credit and cash flow, and use experienced local pros who know the programs and the market.
The key is planning ahead and formulating a strategy with a seasoned lender and realtor to help attain the dream of home ownership.
About the Author:
Emily Nealy has been a licensed Realtor with eXp Realty since 2014, serving families and individuals throughout Acadiana with professionalism and care. Married to Brandon, pastor of Christ Church of Acadiana, Emily is deeply involved in the local community and values the opportunity to walk alongside people during major life transitions. Before real estate, she taught Pre-K, an experience that shaped her passion for education and her patient, clear approach in guiding clients. She and Brandon are raising four children and, in August 2025, joyfully welcomed their first son-in-law into the family. Whether mentoring new agents, helping first-time buyers, or working with seasoned homeowners, Emily’s goal is to make the path to homeownership simple, informed, and rooted in trust. Trusted Guidance for Life’s Big Moves. Article AI assisted.
