If you don’t have a mortgage today, it’s unlikely you’ll get one in the future.  More than 70 percent of those without mortgages aren’t likely to get one in the future, and the 2008  housing crisis greatly influenced their aversion to homeownership.

So, what’s causing the reticence? Retirement is the most common reason Americans say they won’t take out a mortgage loan in the future, according to a new study by YouGov. Americans are already worried about having enough money saved to last all of their long years in retirement, thanks to the high cost of healthcare in retirement and providing financial support for adult children. So, it makes sense retirees are less likely to take out a future mortgage.

Here’s another problem: Nearly 30 percent of Americans don’t think they’ll earn enough money to afford a mortgage where they live. It’s a valid concern, especially for those who live in cities. ATTOM Data Solutions’ latest Home Affordability report revealed median-priced homes are out of reach for Americans in 84 percent of counties and 30 percent of them lived in places where they would need a household income of at least $100,000 or more to buy a median-priced home. It’s not just a national concern, all over the globe people are unable to afford the high prices of properties available in the areas they live in.

More than 15 percent of Americans don’t anticipate getting a future mortgage because they’re too busy paying down other debts. A study from AARP found that 70 percent of Americans consider their level of debt to be problematic. Between credit card debt, car loans and student loan debt, saving for a downpayment, let alone the real costs of homeownership, is out of reach for Millennials and even some Gen-Xers.

Close to half of YouGov’s respondents were financially affected by the 2008 housing crisis. More than 30 percent say the crash influenced how they feel about homeownership today. Almost 20 percent preferred renting over owning their primary residence, possibly because of their experience with the crash.

The good news is that those with mortgages are optimistic about their futures. More than 60 percent of respondents think it’s likely they’ll be able to pay off their mortgages in full. Nearly 80 percent are confident their residence will never be foreclosed on and 75 percent think it’s very unlikely that they’ll need to take out an additional mortgage.

It’s great that Americans are confident they’ll be able to pay off their mortgages. Hopefully, as they do, those who aren’t so sure they can afford a future mortgage will see that it can be done and reconsider taking out a mortgage in the future. After all, owning a home is a key ingredient to achieving the American dream.