07/05/2026
Boomers didn’t have it easy, but let’s stop pretending the housing market they entered looks anything like the one young adults are facing today.
In 1970, the median new home sold for around $24,000.
Today, the median first-time homebuyer is 40 years old.
That’s freaking crazy.
A lot of Gen Z isn’t trying to buy their dream home right now.
They’re trying to afford rent, groceries, car insurance, student loans, and a basic night out without checking their bank account like it’s a crime scene.
One recent housing survey found 67% of Gen Z adults say they struggle to afford their rent or mortgage.
That’s the part older generations sometimes miss.
Young people didn’t just wake up allergic to hard work.
They entered adulthood during one of the most expensive housing markets we’ve ever seen.
Hard work still matters.
Saving still matters.
Investing still matters.
But when the first rung of the ladder gets moved higher every year, people eventually start wondering if the ladder was pulled up on purpose.
