Millennials and Gen Zers are willing to significantly reduce discretionary spending to be able to buy their first home, according to a new survey, but many are unsure that will be enough to overcome affordability barriers.
The survey, conducted in January by a third-party research panel commissioned by Mercury Insurance, found that 73% of respondents would cut back on discretionary purchases to afford a home. The most common items they were willing to give up were luxury items (73%), sporting event tickets (64%), food delivery (61%), alcohol (60%) and concert tickets (52%).
The millennial generation is typically defined as people who are currently between the ages of 30 and 45, while adults in the Generation Z cohort are 18 to 29.
Collectively, 32% of respondents in those cohorts indicated they are unsure if they will ever own a home, while 97% said their respective generation faces greater homeownership hurdles than previous generations.
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While 49% of millennials and Gen Z members said cutting back on discretionary spending would help them achieve their homeownership dream, 51% said it wouldn’t move the needle enough to sufficiently impact home affordability.
Prospective homebuyers from younger generations are flexible on location, the survey found. Among millennials, 28% were willing to move more than 50 miles from their desired location. Among Gen Zers, that figure was 23%.
About a third of both generations are willing to get a second job, delay having kids or temporarily move in with their parents if it means becoming a homeowner, the survey found. But many drew a line in the sand on other concessions, with just 19% saying they would delay further education and just 21% willing to move to a “less desirable area.”



