2 in 3 Gen Z Fear They'll Never Afford a Home -- 1 in 5 Say WWIII Is More Likely to Happen First

Two-thirds (66%) of Gen Z are more concerned about housing security than a year ago, and nearly 1 in 3 (30%) have considered squatting or living in their car.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Though 90% of Gen Z want to own a home someday, 62% fear they never will, according to a new report from Clever Offers, a platform owned by Clever Real Estate that allows home sellers on tight timelines to explore their selling options.

About 1 in 5 (21%) Gen Z even believe World War III is more likely to occur than buying a home in the next five years. Nearly the same share say they're more likely to win the lottery (17%) or become homeless (18%) within that timeframe.

Among Gen Zers who worry they'll never own a home, 82% cite affordability as the reason — a sharp increase from 57% in 2024.

Despite 75% of Gen Z saying the high cost of living has made saving for a down payment impossible — and 49% feeling homeownership is so out of reach that it's pointless to even try saving — many are still willing to make sacrifices to buy a home.

35% of Gen Z would consider skipping other debt payments to afford a home, although 34% have more debt than savings. Half (50%) have under $5,000 saved, and 17% have no savings at all.

Even more, nearly half (47%) would buy a home with asbestos, 41% would tolerate pests, and 36% would purchase a home with mold. Over half (55%) would accept an interest rate higher than today's 7%.

66% believe the housing market is rigged against them. About one-third (32%) blame the government for their inability to afford a home, but 28% admit their own spending habits are a factor.

Although 80% of Gen Z believe buying a home is the right financial move, 45% say their peers have made poor financial choices to achieve it. Among Gen Z homeowners, 29% struggle with mortgage payments, and 23% report that their finances have worsened since buying.

Read the full report at: https://cleveroffers.com/research/gen-z-homeownership-rate/

About Clever Offers
Clever Offers is a platform that empowers sellers who need to sell quickly or for cash to compare their options and make informed decisions. Clever Offers' free service connects sellers with vetted cash buyers and top local realtors, allowing them to evaluate traditional cash offers alongside options such as cash offers with a second payment upon resale, listing on the MLS for as little as 7 days, and standard open-market listings.

About Clever
Clever Real Estate's content reaches over 10 million readers annually, and its nationwide agent matching service has a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 3,600+ customer reviews. Since launching in 2017, Clever has reached $13.7 billion in real estate sold, matched 171,000+ customers with realtors, and saved consumers over $200 million on commission fees. Clever's network spans 17,000 agents across all 50 states.

CONTACT:                                                                                                                                    
Nicole Lehman
Clever Real Estate
[email protected]
724-719-0406

SOURCE Clever Offers