How Many Millennials Own Homes? (2024 Update)

According to recent census data released by the United States, millennials now make up a greater share of the population than any other generational group. Millennials are defined as people born between 1981 and 1996, meaning that the group’s oldest members are slated to turn 41 this year. That number happens to coincide with the prime home-buying age for Americans, which begins in the early 40s.

Unsurprisingly, this has led to an explosion of home buying by millennial clients. Millennials began gobbling up houses in recent years, setting a trend that shows no signs of slowing. How many millennials actually own homes? And how many millennials are there? What do the trends look like in the coming years for millennial homeownership? This article will answer all of those questions and more.

The Numbers

As of the most recent census compiled in 2020, 72.1 million Americans are millennials, which surpasses the number of Baby Boomers, making millennials the generation with the largest number of people in the United States. There are an estimated 1.8 billion millennials worldwide.

For a long time, millennial homeownership lagged behind that of their elders. In some markets, the gap was wide and highly concerning. However, a recent spate of buying has started to close the gap between millennials and other generations regarding homeownership.

The latest surveys have millennial homeownership at 47.9%. That means the number of millennials who own their own home is estimated to be 34.5 million. That number is projected to rise even further in the coming years.

Despite the promising numbers, 52.1% of millennials still do not own their own homes. Over half of millennials are still locked out of one of the most trusted methods of building wealth. The 52.1% of millennials who have not purchased a home are either renting or living with friends and family.

Well over 50% of the older generations own their own homes, and millennials are still behind and looking to increase their share of the home market even further.

The Latest Trends In Millennial Home Buying

All of the trends are pointing to a further increase in millennial home buying in both the short term and the long term. As millennials continue to get established in their careers and age into more financially stable conditions, the rate of homeownership should continue to rise. That is going to continue to drive demand for houses in markets with high populations of millennials.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed more millennials into buying homes than ever before, and more are considering buying in the short term. The only thing holding them back is a lack of supply in the market. As demand continues to soar for moderately priced homes, millennials are facing a stiff headwind in the market. Prices continue to rise around the country, which reduces the prospects of easy house buys for the remaining millennials looking on the market.

Another factor that is likely to weigh on the mortgage market in the long term is the fact that the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates. Interest rates have hovered around historic lows since the 2008 financial crisis, and the pandemic has kept rates low. Lower interest rates at the federal level translate to low-interest rates for the consumer. If the projected rate hikes go into effect in the next year or two, it will cause mortgage rates to rise, which will help decrease the demand in the market.

All of that equates to a continuing rise in millennial homeownership for the foreseeable future but at a rate that is likely to slow due to a number of factors.

Are There Enough Homes To Meet The Growing Millennial Demand?

In short, no. The pandemic severely impacted new home sales. Shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, and historic demand hampered construction. The result was far fewer homes being completed than anticipated. These shortfalls have left a significant supply shortage in the housing market, which is driving up prices coast to coast.

Even without the pandemic’s disruptive effects, there was not enough supply to meet the growing demand for homes. A recent study by CNBC claims that there is a shortage of 5 million houses in the market, and builders cannot keep up to cause that number to fall.

With the market in flux and demand continuing to soar, if you are on the fence about buying, now is probably the time to start getting serious.

Steps To Start House Shopping

If you are one of the millennials who have yet to buy a home and are looking to break into the market, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you are in the best position possible.

1. Start with a Budget

The first thing you need to consider is your budget. Before you talk to any financial agents, develop a budget independently. Use a mortgage calculator and your daily expenses to find a number you feel comfortable with. Banks and mortgage lenders will often try and approve you for more money than is actually feasible. Coming up with an independent number will ensure you buy a house you can actually afford.

2. Get Pre Approved

After you have your budget in mind and your credit in order, ask your bank to preapprove you for a mortgage. A pre-approval simply means the bank will give you a mortgage up to an agreed-upon amount. Getting preapproved shows realtors and sellers that you are a serious buyer. It also speeds up the final loan approval process and closing time frame.

3. Start Shopping

You do not necessarily have to get a realtor; you can simply start shopping. Keep an eye on the market and determine what your money can buy and can’t. Make lists of features or neighborhoods that are appealing to you. Once you are ready to take the plunge, get a realtor and start looking at properties in person.

4. Be Patient

There is no need to rush into a first-time home purchase. Houses enter and leave the market all the time. Rushing to buy a home just for the sake of buying will lead to regret. Buyer’s remorse is very common for first-time home buyers, especially those who rush.

Keep an eye on the market, trust your realtor, and trust your instinct, and the right home will surface eventually. In hot markets, putting a good offer in on a house does not even guarantee that you will get it. Patience will be vital.

5. Closing the deal

Lastly, once you have found the right home in your budget, it is time to buy. Putting an offer on a house is exciting and scary but will lead to closing on your first home. After the closing process, you will join the ranks of millennials who own homes.

Related Read: 14 Working From Home Productivity Statistics 

Conclusion

Millennials account for millions of Americans, and they have been heavily defined by the 2008 financial crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After all of that, they are finally ready to start buying their own homes in earnest, leading to a boom in demand in the market. There are an estimated 34 million millennial homeowners in the United States already.

More than half of millennials have yet to buy their first home, but the number is slated to shrink in the coming years. Despite the rising demand, supply shortage, and inflation, home buying remains one of the most secure ways to build wealth, and it is now the millennial’s time to seize the initiative for themselves.

Featured Image Credit: Olha Povozniuk, Shutterstock