Gen Z’s Housing Struggle: Few Break Through via Family Help and Regional Relocation

Homeownership remains a distant dream for most Generation Z Americans as soaring housing prices and elevated mortgage rates create near-insurmountable barriers. Redfin data reveals just over a quarter of Gen Zers owned homes in 2024—a figure stagnant since 2022. The 20% down payment requirement proves particularly crushing for a generation simultaneously grappling with skyrocketing rents and student debt burdens.

Those who succeed frequently rely on intergenerational wealth transfers, with family assistance bridging the savings gap. Others employ geographic arbitrage, targeting affordable Midwest and Southern markets where prices haven't completely decoupled from local incomes. This exodus from coastal cities underscores the growing regional disparities in housing accessibility.

The implications extend beyond real estate—delayed homeownership threatens traditional wealth-building pathways for an entire demographic. As housing consumes ever-larger portions of young budgets, discretionary spending power dwindles, potentially reshaping consumption patterns across cryptocurrency, retail, and entertainment sectors.