nepo babies & Married couples
or Rent instead…
The U.S. housing market continues to present significant challenges for aspiring homeowners, particularly younger generations, as highlighted in a recent clip from our Full Count Podcast YouTube channel. Titled "Married Couples and Nepo HomeBuyers are Trying to Compete with Repeat Buyers (Boomers)", the segment is excerpted from episode 73: "Born to Rent: Why Today's 20-30 Year Olds Have Issues Affording a Home, Even with 50-Year Mortgages." The discussion focuses on the structural barriers driving delayed homeownership and the competitive dynamics at play. Key insights include:
The median age for first-time homebuyers reached a record high of 40 years in 2025, up from 38 the previous year, while repeat buyers (often established homeowners from older generations) have a median age of 62. This widening gap reflects how economic pressures—high prices, interest rates, and limited inventory—push entry into the market later in life.
Homeowners are staying in their properties longer, with average tenure ranging from 11.8 years (per Redfin analysis) to around 12.3 years in broader estimates, which further constrains available supply.
Family assistance plays a prominent role for many buyers. Approximately 39% of all homeowners received down payment help (often from parents), but the figure rises sharply among younger cohorts: roughly 78% of Gen Z homeowners and 54% of millennials benefited from such support. These "nepo buyers" (those leveraging family resources) gain a meaningful edge in a tough environment.
Marriage remains a key factor in affordability. In 2025, 50% of first-time buyers were married couples, compared to 25% single women, 10% single men, and the balance unmarried couples or other arrangements, according to the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
Looking ahead, many younger adults place significant hope in future inheritances—more than 50% of Gen Z and nearly 60% of millennials expect them to bolster financial security and retirement—yet experts emphasize that relying on such windfalls is far from a dependable strategy (Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study).
In essence, the clip underscores a market where established repeat buyers hold advantages through equity and locked-in rates, while younger entrants often need family support or combined incomes to compete effectively. It's a clear illustration of the generational affordability challenges shaping real estate today.