Are You Paying Your Adult Child's House Down Payment?

Real estate agent greets customers while standing outside a house for sale.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Young homebuyers are twice as likely to use family money for a down payment as they were five years ago, according to a new report from Redfin. In fact, 36% of Gen Zers and Millennials who plan to buy a home expect to receive support from family to help fund their down payment.

An additional 16% of Gen Zers and Millennials say they’ll use inheritance money as a down payment, and 13% plan to live with their parents or other family members to help save for a down payment on a house.

How much does it cost to buy a new home?

That’s because the rising costs of purchasing a home — up nearly 40% from before the pandemic — are making it incredibly hard for young people to come up with a down payment. When you also factor in high student loan payments, rising rents, inflation, mortgage rates and the overall cost of living, even the starter homes become unaffordable.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just ~~$107.88~~ $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/y99mlvgqmn1763972420.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

“Because housing costs have soared so much, many young adults with family money get help from Mom and Dad even when they have jobs and earn a perfectly respectable income,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “The bigger problem is that young Americans who don’t have family money are often shut out of homeownership.”

What's the biggest barrier to buying a home?

Among the Gen Zers and Millennials who aren’t likely to buy a home soon, lack of affordability is the most significant barrier, with nearly half (43%) of Gen Zers and Millennials saying they’re unlikely to purchase a home soon because the homes on the market are too expensive.

Roughly one-third (34%) say their ability to save for a down payment is a barrier to buying a home, followed by the ability to afford mortgage payments (29%) and high mortgage rates (29%).

Of the Gen Zers and millennials who aren’t planning to buy a home in the near future, 16% cited a lack of financial support from family or friends as a reason.
More than 10% of young Americans said they must pay off student loans before purchasing a home.
Of those saving for a down payment, 60% plan to save directly from paychecks.
About 40% plan to take a second job to save for a down payment.

To view the full report, including charts and survey methodology, visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/gen-z-millennial-down-payment-family-help

For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.

How much does it cost to buy a new home?

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

What's the biggest barrier to buying a home?

Related Content