Gen Z can’t afford a house. Some parents are choosing to fund down payments over college funds
Fortune • • business
Key Points:
- A Northwestern Mutual study reveals that 52% of parents are open to helping their children with a home down payment, with 22% already providing assistance, signaling a shift in how families approach wealth-building.
- Nearly 29% of parents now consider helping their kids buy a home more important than funding college, as the value of a four-year degree declines amid high unemployment and underemployment for recent graduates.
- Rising home prices and delayed homeownership—now averaging age 40—are making it harder for young people to achieve the American dream independently, prompting some parents to invest in real estate early to build their children's wealth.
- Gen Z is increasingly turning to high-risk investments such as cryptocurrency, sports betting, and meme stocks as
