Millennial home buying trends have become a hot topic in luxury real estate. Millennials include anyone born between 1981 and 1996, and they’re quickly becoming a dominating force in real estate. In 2018, millennials represented the largest cohort of home buyers at 37%, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2019 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report.
This group now outnumbers baby boomers, and what they’re looking for in a home is drastically different than what their parents wanted when they entered the market. Although there are plenty of High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth millennials—mostly due to taking advantage of online business opportunities—this group started at a disadvantage as most entered adulthood during the last major recession in 2008.
While many have caught up by now, they are still more fiscally conscious than baby boomers were, and millennial home buying trends lean more towards minimalism than opulent shows of wealth.
Truly understanding millennial home buying trends means understanding their values, and it’s clear that these buyers are health-conscious, practical, and looking for new experiences.
LUXURY CONDOS HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE IN STYLE
If you’ve kept up with our Luxury Market Reports over the last year, you’ll know that one of the most obvious millennial home buying trends is luxury condo ownership. Most millennials have fewer children than their baby boomer parents had and are no longer looking to own “McMansion” style homes.
These buyers also love to travel, making it impractical to have such a big space that won’t be used much. And since many are waiting longer to get married and have families in general, luxury condos offer them the ability to socialize in communal areas like rooftop pools and gardens, and offer close proximity to nightlife and entertainment.
If you notice your larger luxury properties moving slowly, it’s worth figuring out how to present these properties in “bite-sized” pieces to make them more appealing to this group, especially if you’re in an urban area where the millennial population is a bit larger. For instance, if your property has lots of rooms, help them imagine what each room could be used for, like a home yoga studio, an art studio, an Airbnb opportunity, or a music room.
HEALTHY LIVING IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
This group has made it clear that their health is their top priority, so it makes sense that one of the biggest millennial home buyer trends is to look for properties that offer easy access to healthy activities such as nature trails, yoga studios, gyms, and bikeable or walkable areas.
Casey Ragan
“Toronto’s Luxury Real Estate Authority”