The American Family: Waiting to Say ‘I Do’

Homeownership is the largest source of wealth for most American families, and obtaining a safe, traditional 15-to-30-year mortgage is a key step toward achieving financial security. But outdated housing policies and financial regulations have made small mortgages—those for homes priced under $150,000—expensive for lenders and unavailable for millions of qualified and creditworthy borrowers, especially Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous households and those in rural communities. With limited access to small mortgages, many of these families turn to alternative financing arrangements, which often involve financial risks and lack many of the protections traditional mortgages offer.

Stat: 7. On average, Americans are waiting nearly seven years longer to get married than they did in 1968, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Story: Does putting off marriage mean people no longer want to say “I do?” To learn more about this trend, we spoke to couples who are waiting to wed—in the first installment of our four-part series on today’s American family. Marriage historian Stephanie Coontz also offers insights.

Related resources:

• 8 Facts About Love and Marriage in America
• For Many Millennials, Marriage Can Wait
• Number of U.S. Adults Cohabiting With a Partner Continues to Rise, Especially Among Those 50 and Older 
• Record Share of Americans Have Never Married 
• Led by Baby Boomers, Divorce Rates Climb for America’s 50+ Population 
• U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2018 Families and Living Arrangements Tables