It could take Houston-area renters more than seven years to save for a down payment in today’s market, and that’s no surprise, as starter-home prices are growing almost seven times faster than renter incomes, according to a new report from Zillow.

According to the report, it would take an average rental household about six years and five months to save enough for a 20% down payment on a typical starter home worth $148,500 — a full year longer than it would have taken to save for a starter home down payment five years ago. That’s if they save 10% of their income. 

In the Houston metro area, it would take an average renter saving 10% of their income 7.2 years to save enough for a 20% down payment on a typical starter home worth $173,750.

Zillow economic data analyst Nicole Bachaud says first-time homebuyers face more challenges in coming up with a down payment without having equity from a previous home sale. 

“In a housing market where prices are rising at record rates, especially when compared to renter incomes, the ever-increasing sum of a 20% down payment can feel out of reach,” she said in a press release. “The good news is that buyers who want to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates can do so without putting a full 20% down — most conventional mortgages allow as little as 3% to 5%. That lower upfront payment comes with higher monthly payments, but the opportunity to build equity can outweigh those extra costs for many.”

First-time homebuyers could secure a mortgage with less than 20% down, according to the analysis, which found 64% of first-time homebuyers do just that, and 25% put down 5% or less, allowing them to save what they need in less time — an average of three years and three months to save up a 10% down payment and a year and seven months to save 5%.