Millennials are ready to purchase homes finally; after 10 years of declining numbers according to a University of Southern California study.  This is fantastic news for the housing market and fantastic news for millennials as they shift from renting to owning.  A certain shift from 2014 when Pew research reported that for the first time in 130 years, individuals between the ages of 25-44 were more likely to be living with their parents vs. owning a home.

One of the stunning statistics I came across reading a Bank of America study was total lack of understanding of what is actually available to millennials; their perceptions of what it took to own a home was incredible; here’s what it showed:

-30% of millennials believed they need 20% down to get a mortgage

-31% believed they needed 10% down

-Only 5% believed they needed 5%

-6% were simply unsure

That represents 72% of all millennials!  Yet most millennials that do in fact obtain a mortgage pay around 3%!

Until recent times, the factors that contributed to both the realities as well as poor perceptions of one’s ability to own a home were:

1. Increase in Debt
2. Unemployment rate
3. Increase in rental costs leading to decrease in ability to save for a down payment
4. Credit requirements after the mortgage meltdown
5. Lower inventory of starter homes
6. Getting married later- lack of dual incomes to go on mortgage

As I wrote in a prior blog, times are changing for the good.  It’s amazing what a positive outlook does for politicians, investors/Wallstreet, business owners and of course, the stock market.   Low down and no down payment mortgages are truly helping millennials obtain their goals

My advice to the millennials is simple: roll up your sleeves, get with someone that truly knows what they are talking about and define your point “A”.  Meaning, if you want to own a home, don’t be embarrassed about anything: what your bank account says, what your credit score is or what limitations you think you might have.  It’s important to get it all out on paper; some may find themselves in their own home right away, some very soon and for the rest, they are left with a clear path to point “B”, an exact game plan.

Next week I will reviewing interest rates and inventory; thanks for reading!