Editorial update: September 30, 2026. This article has been updated for the Own Your Frontier identity and to distinguish published research, illustrative models and current program availability. Its original publication date is retained.
Own Your Frontier is a program of American Dream Foundation. Our purpose is to help working Americans gain the ownership, opportunity and independence to build a life on their own terms. Homeownership is our first focus.
What the evidence shows
National nominal home prices rose 58.5% from January 2020 to June 2026 in the Case-Shiller index. Median full-time weekly earnings rose 30.7% from Q1 2020 to Q2 2026. These series describe different populations and periods; they do not by themselves establish what a particular household can afford.
Our worked example models a $500,000 purchase with 20% down and an assumed 7% mortgage rate. That rate is a scenario input, not a current quote. The illustration compares mortgage principal and interest with an earlier benchmark; taxes, insurance, maintenance and other ownership costs are excluded. Deferred assistance would reduce the first mortgage while remaining a debt under the assistance agreement.
Explore the research
- What changed: national earnings, home prices and mortgage costs, with their dates and limitations.
- The worked example: the assumptions behind the modeled monthly gap and a calculator to explore alternatives.
- How capital could help: assistance structures, funding needs and the costs of sustaining support.
- Research: studies of other programs, their findings and the limits of what they establish.
- Sources and methods: data definitions, calculation methods and scenario assumptions.
The program and the wider purpose
As of this editorial update, homebuyer applications are not open. How it works shows the current program status. Eligibility, available funds and a signed agreement must be confirmed before a household relies on assistance. An inquiry or saved scenario does not reserve funding.
The proposed recoverable model allows capital repaid under an agreement to return to the program fund. Timing and losses affect how much can support future households. The public ledger reports recorded activity separately from our funding illustrations. Giving availability shows the currently configured ways to contribute; tax-deductible status is not confirmed.
The wider mission includes skilled careers, productive ownership and the resilience to preserve what people have built. These are future areas of exploration, with no additional grant, lending, placement or emergency-assistance services currently offered. New programs need experienced partners, committed funding, clear terms and measurable outcomes.
To discuss the housing approach, sponsorship or a potential partnership, contact Own Your Frontier.