Category Archives: Generation X

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Americans’ Powerful Belief in Homeownership as an Investment

July 11, 2019Baby Boomers, Demographics, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Generation X, Housing Market Updates, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real EstateBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

The Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) recently released their 2019 Survey of Consumer Expectations Housing Survey. The survey reported that 65% of Americans believe homeownership is a good financial investment. Since 2014, the percentage has increased by over nine percent.The Fed’s survey also showed that when the results are broken down by age, education, income, or region of the country, more than 55% of Americans in each category see homeownership as a good investment.

This coincides with a recent Gallup survey of Americans which revealed that real estate was their number one choice for the best long-term investment when compared to stocks, savings accounts or gold.

Bottom Line

Americans’ belief in residential real estate as a good financial investment continues to grow as the housing market returns to normalcy.

Americans Rank Real Estate Best Investment for 6 Years Running! [INFOGRAPHIC]

June 28, 2019Baby Boomers, Demographics, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Generation X, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real EstateBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

Some Highlights:

Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 6 years.
Stock owners are more positive about real estate than stocks as an investment.
Of the 4 listed, real estate is the only investment you can also live in!

Time for Your Dream Home, Gen X!

June 13, 2019Demographics, For Buyers, For Sellers, Generation X, Housing Market Updates, Move-Up Buyers, Real EstateBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

During the housing market crash, Gen X homeowners lost more wealth than other generations. However, things are changing now! A strong economy, increasing home prices, and the recovery of the housing market are helping this generation to regain their lost wealth.

According to Pew Research Center,

“Their fortunes have rebounded more than those of other generations during the post-recession economic expansion and as home and stock prices have risen. Since 2010, the median net worth of Gen X households has risen 115%. In fact, in 2016, the most recent year with available data, the net worth of a typical Gen X household had surpassed what it was in 2007 ($84,200 vs. $63,400)”.

The same report also mentioned,

“15% of Gen X’s homeowners were ‘underwater’ on their homes in 2010 (meaning they owed more than they owned). By 2016 only 3% were underwater.”

As a result of homes regaining market value and their increasing net worth, many Gen Xers are presented with the opportunity of selling their current home in order to move up to the house they always dreamed of!

According to the 2019 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report by the National Associations of Realtors, in 2018 Gen Xers made up the second largest share of home buyers by generation at 24%.

The report also provided some highlights about their purchase:

Greatest share that purchased a multi-generational home (16%).
Largest share that purchased a detached single-family home (88%).
Highest median household income ($111,100).
Bought the most expensive homes of all the generations.
Job-related relocation was identified as the primary reason to buy.

But this generation is not only buying- they are selling too!

Largest share of home sellers (25%).
Highest median household income among sellers ($123,6000).
Tenure in the previous home was a median of 9 years.
House too small was indicated as the primary reason to sell.
91% sold the home using a real estate professional.

Bottom Line

If you are a Gen Xer who would like to know exactly how much your house is worth today so you can move up to the home of your dreams, let’s get together to analyze your current circumstances.

Multigenerational Homes Are on the Rise

May 29, 2019Baby Boomers, Demographics, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Generation X, Housing Market Updates, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate, Senior MarketBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

As loved ones start to get older, we start to wonder: how long will they be able to live alone? Will they need someone there to help them with daily life? There’s a reason to ask those questions now more than ever, as the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years old! As a result, 41% of Americans in the market are searching for a home that can accommodate a multigenerational family.

The graph below shows the number of people by generation that purchased a multigenerational home because they will either be taking care of an aging parent or they just want to spend time together.Of those buyers, 26% indicated they will be taking care of an aging parent, and 14% said they want to spend time with an aging parent. These numbers do not come as a surprise. According to Pew Research Center, 64 million Americans (20% of the population) lived in a multigenerational household in 2016 (Last numbers available).An increasing number of studies affirm the benefits of being part of a multigenerational household. These benefits aren’t just for the grandchildren, but for the grandparents as well. According to these two resources:

The University of Oxford

“Children who are close to their grandparents have fewer emotional and behavioral problems and are better able to cope with traumatic life events, like a divorce or bullying at school”.

Boston College

“Researchers found that emotionally close ties between grandparents and adult grandchildren reduced depressive symptoms in both groups”.

This research gives helpful insight into why 41% of Americans are in the market to buy a multigenerational home.

Bottom Line

If you have a home that could accommodate a multigenerational family and are thinking about selling, now is the perfect time to put it on the market! The number of buyers looking for this type of home will only continue to increase.

What Would Make You Sell Your House?

April 30, 2019Baby Boomers, Demographics, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Generation X, Housing Market Updates, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate, Senior MarketBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

There are many reasons why a homeowner decides to sell their house and move. The latest Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors asked recent home sellers to share their reason for moving.

The younger the respondents, the more likely their top response centered around needing a larger home (ages 29 to 53). Relocating for a job was the top reason for those ages 54 to 63 and the second most popular response for those under 53. The chart below shows the breakdown for these two reasons.

For homeowners over the age of 64, wanting to be closer to friends and family served as the top motivator to move. Downsizing to a smaller home or moving due to retirement came in as a close second and third.

Have you outgrown your current house? Are you a homeowner who can relate to wanting to be closer to family and friends? Is your house becoming a burden to clean now that the kids have moved out?

Bottom Line

Let’s get together to set you on the path to selling your current house and finding the home that fits your needs, today!

Is Buying a Home Really More Stressful Than Planning a Wedding? [INFOGRAPHIC]

September 14, 2018First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Generation X, Infographics, Millennials, Real EstateBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

Some Highlights:

According to a new survey from Open Listings, 62% of Americans ages 25-54 believe that buying a home is more stressful than planning a wedding.
Many young couples are saving for a wedding and a home at the same time.
The average US wedding now costs 66% of a median home down payment, according to The Knot.

Homebuyers Willing to Sacrifice ‘Must-Haves’ in Favor of Good School Districts

August 15, 2018First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Generation X, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real EstateBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

It should come as no surprise that buying a home in a good school district is important to homebuyers. According to a report from Realtor.com, 86% of 18-34 year-olds and 84% of those aged 35-54 indicated that their home search areas were defined by school district boundaries.

What is surprising, however, is that 78% of recent homebuyers sacrificed features from their “must-have” lists in order to find homes within their dream school districts.

The top feature sacrificed was a garage at 19%, followed closely by a large backyard, an updated kitchen, the desired number of bedrooms, and an outdoor living area. The full results are shown in the graph below.

Buyers are attracted to schools with high test scores, accelerated academic programs, art and music programs, diversity, and before and after-school programs.

With a limited number of homes available to buy in today’s real estate market, competition is fierce for homes in good school districts. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for Realtor.com, explained further,

“Most buyers understand that they may not be able to find a home that covers every single item on their wish list, but our survey shows that school districts are an area where many buyers aren’t willing to compromise.

For many buyers and not just buyers with children, ‘location, location, location,’ means ‘schools, schools, schools.’” (emphasis added)

Bottom Line

For buyers across the country, the quality of their children’s (or future children’s) education ranks highest on their must-have lists. Before you start the search for your next home, let’s get together to discuss the market conditions in our area.

Americans Rank Real Estate Best Investment for 5 Years Running! [INFOGRAPHIC]

July 27, 2018Baby Boomers, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Generation X, Infographics, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate, Rent vs. BuyBennington, Homes, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty, Southern VermontBrenda Jones

Some Highlights:

Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 5 years!
The generations agree! Real estate is the best investment!
Generation X leads the way with 37% believing in real estate as the top investment.