Most Millennials Doubt They Can Afford a Home
A new survey found 96% of millennial home buyers have concerns about purchasing a home, with 44% worried about finding an affordable home.
ST. LOUIS — Just 21% of millennials believe their generation can afford homes, a sharp decline from the 52% who felt the same in 2024, according to new research from Real Estate Witch, an online publication owned by Clever Real Estate.
The median U.S. home price hovers around $420,000, but 68% of 2025 millennial home buyers plan to purchase a home that costs less than $400,000. In comparison, just 57% of millennials planned to spend less than $400,000 in 2024.
Most (96%) of millennial home buyers have concerns about purchasing a home, with 44% worried about finding an affordable home — up from 35% in 2024.
Nearly all millennials (97%) face barriers to homeownership, with financial challenges topping the list: 52% cite high home prices, 48% point to high interest rates, and 44% struggle to save for a down payment.
As a result, nearly half of millennials (41%) would buy a home with asbestos or pests, such as mice, cockroaches, and spiders, while 57% would make an offer on a fixer upper.
Surprisingly, more millennials would prefer buying near a cemetery (34%) or railroad track (26%) than near their ex (25%), while 60% wouldn't consider a home near their in-laws.
About 74% of millennials believe high interest rates make now a bad time to buy a home, but 76% say they would be enticed to buy if rates fall in 2025.
Over half (56%) would offer over asking price, though that figure has dropped from 79% in 2024.
67% of millennials regret not buying a home when prices were lower, and 32% expect to max out their budgets in 2025.
Nearly half of millennials (45%) think their generation faces the greatest challenges in affording homes, with 33% blaming boomers for being most responsible for the affordable housing crisis.
Source: Real Estate Witch
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