Tag Archives: Millennials

Millennials face a variety of challenges, which may impact the future of the housing market. Editor's note: This select print feature appears in the December 2015 edition of MReport magazine, available now.

The housing industry has become so accustomed to believing that renting is a popular trend and option among the millennial generation. However, research shows that picture is distorted and younger consumers are not as big on renting as we believe they are.

America's most-talked about generation—millennials—are expected to impact the housing market heavily in 2016. As home prices in popular metros rise and affordability problems persist, this generation is expected to weigh other options in the near future.

Initial mortgage payments are already affordable to millennials in 73 out of the 100 largest housing markets in the country, according to Trulia—in other words, the initial mortgage payments make up 20 percent or less out of that household’s monthly income. In 17 out of the largest housing markets, however, a median price home is defined as unaffordable to millennials.

Commentary is an ongoing series on theMReport.com that focuses on opinions, ideas, and insights from experts across mortgage banking. With skyrocketing rents in many parts of the country, buying a home is beginning to look more attractive to millennials. Jeannie Smith, VP of sales and a home loan officer at Guardian Mortgage discusses how Millennials desire homeownership but struggle financially and how the mortgage industry can help.

Freddie Mac and Quicken Loans recently announced that they have joined forces to pilot several new initiatives aimed at helping provide more Americans the opportunity to achieve homeownership, while also building a smarter American mortgage finance system.

Although millennials are less likely than baby boomers to identify milestone life events that could affect their credit, over half them are checking their credit when taking out a mortgage loan.

While student loan debt does play a role in the low homeownership rates among millennials, it does not fully explain why this generation is slow to purchase a home, according to Freddie Mac's monthly Insight & Outlook for September released Wednesday.

Although millennials have been labeled “the generation of renters,” research shows that this group is more interested in purchasing a home than other generations, but the problem is, they lack financial stability.

Many housing experts feel that millennials are not as interested in homeownership than previous generations and prefer the freedom of renting instead, according to Fannie Mae commentary by Sarah , strategic planning analyst for Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group.