The numbers are in, and Millennials take the top spot as the largest group of recent home buyers in the U.S. According to the 2014 National Association of REALTORS Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study, which evaluates the generational differences of recent home buyers and sellers, Millennials (those age 33 and younger) comprised 31 percent of recent home purchases.
“Millennials are the largest generation in history after the baby boomers, and since many still aspire to one day invest in their future through homeownership, they will drive future housing demand,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.
Despite having a reputation of not wanting to put down roots, this generation still very much sees homeownership as part of the American Dream. What exactly is this age group – most of whom are likely to start their home buying search online – hoping to gain from working with a REALTOR?
Getting information from the Internet is a lot like trying to take a drink from a fire hydrant. Young buyers are looking to REALTORS to help them understand and interpret this information, given them insights into everything that goes into the home buying decision, and guide them through the process. This is the largest financial transaction of their lives, so they are looking for someone they believe is honest and trustworthy.
This means that they are most likely to hire their agent based on a reference from a friend or relative. As this is probably their first venture into the real estate market, a recommendation from mom or dad, or perhaps a good friend who just went through the process, is going to carry more weight than any online reviews. While Millennials want to enter the market, this generation does face some challenges on their path to homeownership. Twenty percent of Millennials polled said that they would have a hard time saving for down payment, citing student loan debt as their main financial hurdle. That, along with the challenges of tight credit, limited inventory, and the possibility of rising interest rates, can limit the options and ability for young people to own.
However, these issues aren’t changing young buyers’ attitudes about buying a home. This generation truly appreciates the long-term benefits and economic security of homeownership; 87 percent polled say they consider their home purchase a good financial investment. They also understand the issues currently affecting the market, and that they may have to be flexible to make owning their own home a reality.
REALTORS know that younger people often need to make compromises to get into their new home and can help guide buyers to achieving their goal of owning their own property. Desired size and location are usually negotiable when buying a home and most buyers are willing to make financial sacrifices if it means they can make this important investment in their future.
The Greater Chattanooga Association of REALTORS, a regional organization with more than 1,400 members, is one of more than 1,800 local boards and associations of REALTORS nationwide that comprise the National Association of REALTORS. The Greater Chattanooga Association of REALTORS services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. For more information, visit www.gcar.net.