When you consider inflation and interest rate decreases, owning a home today is essentially the same as it was 40 years ago in most markets. There are some outliers but overall the inflation adjusted monthly payment isn’t that different. It’s just that a bigger part of that payment is going to principal rather than interest.

The biggest issue is the outdated idea of putting 20% down. As interest rates fall, down payment percentages should fall. And although you can put less down you end up paying PMI which should be adjusted down too.