Young Homebuyers Lean on Family Help for Down Payments

✍️ By New York Post (author not listed) | 📅 2025-07-15

Young Homebuyers Lean on Family Help for Down Payments

Support Strategies

Nearly 24% of young homebuyers (Gen Z and Millennials) use family gifts or inheritances to fund down payments, with others selling stocks (20%), accessing crypto (13%), or dipping into retirement savings (12%) :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

To reduce costs, ~18% lived with family, worked second jobs, or reduced retirement contributions.

  • Family assistance remains common
  • Asset liquidation increases risk
  • Personal sacrifices to enter market

Trade-offs

Liquidating retirement or savings impairs long-term financial health, yet remains common due to limited housing affordability :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

Living with family or working extra hours may alleviate short-term burden but delay independence.

  • Delayed financial independence
  • Compromised long-term wealth growth
  • Short-term solutions with long-term cost

Conclusion & Actionable Advice

Young buyers should combine family help with disciplined savings and alternative housing models like co-buying or rent-to-own to minimize liabilities.

Balancing home entry with preservation of retirement savings ensures both short- and long-term security.

  • Leverage help strategically, not fully
  • Continue contributing to retirement
  • Explore affordable housing models