In the recipe known as the American Dream, it’s one of the main ingredients: Owning your own home. With the real estate market of America in constant flux, it’s not as simple as it sounds to obtain. For those who are just starting out in the credit world, newly graduated with jobs, degrees, kids, or credit cards, the steps towards making this milestone purchase are getting steeper and steeper. The effects can be seen across the country, as more Americans are settling for tract housing, condos, or living in rentals much longer than ever before.