Debt is in the minds of millions of college graduates throughout the country looking to start their own life. Student debt is also affecting the housing market.

Student debt has accounted for nearly 1 trillion dollars nationwide and could take decades for some recent grads to pay off, but one local real estate office says there are ways around it.

23-year-old college graduate Alyssa Hampson is feeling the pressure of her debt, "It’s been really hard because I pay about $300 per month on my student loans."

Hampson said her debt will take her at least a decade to pay off, but also hopes one day to own her own home, “It’s a huge cut into my budget as to what i can afford on a monthly basis if I moved into an apartment."

Hampson is just one of 40% in their 20's affecting the housing market, according to a New York Federal Reserve report.

Keller Williams real estate broker Kevin Everson said individuals can use a deferment, "It can defer their payments until they are established in their career a little bit. They can also hurt your credit if they aren't making their payments. It can be a stumbling block."

Everson specifically works with first time home buyers and said even with a deferment it might take 6 months to a year for interested home-buyers to get approved, "Probably more turned away. If I get about 10 applicants, I probably get about 3 or 4 in the homes."

Everson said about half of those with student debt are not making their payments and are part of the 17% nationwide delinquent on student loans.

As for Hampson she is prepared to play it safe, “It’s going to be one of those things I live with for a while."

The average outstanding balance on student loans is $25,000 and more than 40 million are in student loan debt nationwide.

Keller Williams said it tries to work with each individual. Even with a large amount of debt those people should look into real estate because interest rates are low and are already showing signs of going up.