Millennials have officially taken over as the driving economic force today. As more and more baby boomers face retirement and are no longer in the workforce it’s the millennial who will wield the purchasing power.
This age group ranging from 28 to 43 or so, which also means their buying power is beginning to mature. A new car, new clothes, and even eating out and weekend entertainment are being paid for out of the millennial’s pocket. But what about real estate? Should Millennials add real estate to their financial profile? Is it time to buy a home now?
One of the things millennials witnessed at an early age was the financial mess that occurred in the last decade leading up to about 2008. Mortgage lenders in their quest for making more home loans would create a new loan program that previously ineligible borrowers could qualify for. Lower down payments, reduced credit scores, and subprime loans hit the market.
At a very tender age, they soon heard the news and saw reports of record foreclosures, a struggling economy and double-digit employment. If you’re 12 years old when all of this was going on no doubt it made an impression. If a millennial today is a bit shy about buying a home, it’s no wonder due to what they saw 10+ years ago. But it’s different today.
The loan programs that caused all the turmoil have long gone, as well as the lenders and banks who made them. Today, lenders approve loans using the Qualified Mortgage, or QM standard. These programs are fully amortized and fully documented and loan terms do not exceed 30 years. The questionable loan programs of the last decade are no longer around. And because of QM guidelines, lenders follow a common sense approach when approving a mortgage loan.
Second, home values are back on the rise. Every year for the last three, the maximum conforming loan limit posted an increase. Not many years ago the maximum conforming limit was $417,000, it’s currently $806,500 in 2025. This is because the national average price of homes continues to increase. Today, home values have erased that deficit and due to a return to traditional underwriting and affordability standards, record foreclosures are a thing of the past.
There are still many great Government-backed mortgage programs geared towards first-time buyers. 100% USDA, FHA, and VA loans to name a few. All of these programs offer safe & secure fix rate terms without any early pay-off penalties. This is great since most first-time buyers only live in their first house for 5 years or so before upgrading.
The millennial first-time buyer can shop with confidence, knowing the lender they’re working with is on solid footing and the loan they qualify for is one they can actually afford. When you combine both an increase in interest rates and prices of homes, it might be the very best time to buy in a long, long time. Please call us above, or just submit the Info Request Form on this page to learn more about all the latest first-time buyer options.