Completing school, studying, finding a job, getting married, and eventually buying a house and getting a Golden Retriever. For a long time, these steps were seen as typical milestones on the way to adulthood. However, for Millennials, this timeline is being pushed further back.
How long does it take for Millennials today to own a home? According to BHW Bausparkasse, people in Germany who build or buy a house are on average around 40 years old. In the 80s and 90s, the average age for buying a house was around 38 years. The big difference lies in affordability.
In fact, previous generations did not pay significantly less for their houses, but at that time, interest rates played a major role. Today, however, young people must save longer to raise the necessary equity.
In 2025, according to LBS Affordability Barometer, only 5.7 percent of German tenant households between 30 and 44 years old have enough equity to meet the requirements for purchasing property. Fifteen years ago, it was still around ten percent.
While Millennials still seem to have a chance at home ownership, Gen Z will likely do so only in Azeroth.
Millennials are redefining their financial wishes in their 30s
How do Millennials deal with this situation? According to a study commissioned by Chime, a US financial technology company, 84 percent of US Millennials (1981–1996) say they have reassessed their financial goals and expectations in their 30s. Fortune reported on this.
39 percent of Millennials see it as a financial success to be able to support their family members. Having their own home follows closely behind at 32 percent.
Does the dream of homeownership still exist? Millennials are not lacking in their desire for their own four walls: 40 percent of surveyed Americans regard homeownership as the greatest status symbol of their age group.
In Germany, the situation is similar: According to a dream home study by Interhyp, only 18 percent of renting Millennials say they do not wish to acquire property. 43 percent would jump at the chance, but they lack the financial means.
By the way: For 61 percent of Millennials surveyed, a classic single-family home is the personal dream of living. So only the Golden Retriever is missing, or maybe a cat would be better?
How about you? Is homeownership part of growing up for you? Or are other things more important? Share your opinion in the comments!
The fact that younger generations live differently than their parents or grandparents often leads to discussions. However, some things fortunately never change: There have always been “slackers.” Just 60 years ago, young people known as “slackers” caused a stir, as you can read here on MeinMMO: Not lazy Gen Z, there were proud “slackers” among the Boomers too.
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