RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN — Although some unique, pandemic-related economic factors have contributed to the current state of the real estate market, some of the largest structural factors driving the current market are generational.

Baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—are increasingly choosing to age in place as they reach retirement. Simultaneously, millennial's, who were born between 1981 and 1996, are now America’s largest generational cohort and at a peak age for buying a first or second home. Together, these forces mean that more buyers are competing for fewer homes. And according to Freddie Mac, the supply of homes for sale was already at a record low prior to the pandemic.

Despite the residential real estate market showing signs of cooling off after a historic run-up during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a home remains challenging for many buyers. Intense competition and rising prices have made it especially difficult for young, first-time home-buyers to make a purchase.

The real estate cool-off is also evidenced by changing home purchase loan volume. The total number of conventional home loans originated in 2022 was down across all age groups from the year prior. Among all age cohorts, 65 – 74-year-old's experienced the largest percentage decline, decreasing by 22.3%. However, younger home-buyers saw smaller decreases in home purchase volume. Notably, the under-25 age group only experienced a 12.3% decline, the smallest of all cohorts and a sign of persistent housing demand from younger generations despite economic headwinds.

Even prior to 2022, home-ownership interest has been increasing among young buyers in recent years. The home-ownership rate for adults under 25 reached 25.7% in 2020, matching a previous peak from the height of the housing bubble in 2005. Although that figure dipped slightly in 2021, the under-25 home-ownership rate sat at 25.4% in 2022, well above rates seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

For young adults interested in home-ownership, some geographic locations prove more favorable than others. Many of the states with the highest shares of home purchase loans from adults under age 25 are found in the Midwest, led by Iowa at 11.5%. The Midwest tends to have lower home prices, which makes home purchases more attainable for younger home buyers who often have less home equity built up than their older counterparts. The same trend holds at the local level, with many of the top metropolitan areas for young homeowners also found in the affordable Midwest.

In contrast, high-cost coastal states including Hawaii (1.6%) and California (1.9%) have much lower shares of home purchase loans from young adults. In these areas, would-be young home buyers face more expensive homes and higher living costs, creating a higher barrier to entry in these real estate markets.

This analysis was conducted by researchers at Construction Coverage, a website that provides construction insurance guides, using data from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. For more information, refer to the methodology section.

The analysis found that 4.5% of conventional home purchase loans in Tennessee were taken out by applicants under 25 years old, with a median loan amount of $225,000. 

Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:

• Under-25 share of home purchase loans: 4.5%

• Total under-25 home purchase loans: 3,348

• Median loan amount: $225,000

• Median loan-to-value ratio: 92.6%

• Median interest rate: 5.250%

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

• Under-25 share of home purchase loans: 4.5%

• Total under-25 home purchase loans: 142,218

• Median loan amount: $205,000

• Median loan-to-value ratio: 92%

• Median interest rate: 5.250%

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see Cities With the Most Homebuyers Under 25 on Construction Coverage.