12 Worst States to Save for a Down Payment Slideshow July 07, 2026 at 12:04 PM Start Slideshow As rising home prices outstrip wage growth, the amount of time that buyers may need to set aside enough money has changed sharply in many parts of the United States, SmartAsset reported Monday. In some states, rising incomes have helped offset higher home values, while in others, buyers may face a substantially longer path to ownership than they did just a decade ago.