The housing market has been brutal for millennials. So why are first-time homebuyers getting younger?

"For several decades, the typical age of first-time homebuyers bounced around the early 30s, never surpassing 33. Last year, though, the group's annual survey found the median age of first-timers had hit a record high of 40, capping off a four-year surge that began during the pandemic-era housing shuffle."

"The splashy number seemed to confirm our worst fears about the housing market: only old, rich people are having any luck, and younger generations are struggling to break in. For those inclined to doomerism, though, it was more proof that a classic marker of adult success was drifting further out of reach."

First-time homebuyers are now significantly older than historical norms, with the median age reaching 40 according to the National Association of Realtors' latest survey. This represents a dramatic shift from decades of stability around age 33, accelerated by pandemic-era housing market disruptions. The trend has sparked widespread concern about housing affordability and generational access to homeownership. While some view this as elder millennials maintaining opportunity, others interpret it as evidence that homeownership—a traditional marker of adult success—is becoming increasingly inaccessible to younger generations. The data reflects broader economic pressures affecting the housing market.

Read at Business Insider