18/04/2026
Younger buyers aren’t stepping back from the property market because they’re “not ready” — they’re being priced out of adulthood.
The latest data shows a deeper shift: affordability gaps, rising deposits, stagnant wages and high rentals are delaying household formation. Young adults are staying home longer, renting longer, and entering ownership later — if at all.
This isn’t just a market trend. It’s a structural change that will shape wealth, mobility and opportunity for an entire generation.
As finance professionals, we can’t ignore this. We need smarter lending pathways, stronger advisory support, and funding solutions that help first‑time buyers break through the barriers.
The dream of homeownership shouldn’t belong only to older generations.
A Lightstone Property analysis of the last nine years shows a decline of buyers between the ages of 18-35, both in percentage terms from 40% to 30%, but also in absolute numbers from 72,000 in 2014 to 47,000 in 2025. Find out why.
