Key Details:
- Clever’s 2025 Gen Z Homebuyer Report reveals that 30% of Gen Z have considered squatting or living in their car due to housing insecurity.
- While 90% want to own a home, 62% fear they never will, and 66% believe the market is rigged against them.
- Nearly half have less than $5,000 in savings, and 34% carry more debt than savings.
When nearly 1 in 3 young adults say they’ve thought about squatting or living in their vehicle, it’s no longer just a housing affordability issue.
It’s a full-blown crisis of confidence in the American Dream.
According to Clever’s 2025 Gen Z Home Buyer Report, 30% of Gen Z have considered squatting or living in their car. It’s not a dramatic headline or a fringe group. It’s a massive portion of the next generation of buyers.
Over 22 million people in the U.S. alone are so disillusioned with the housing market that they’ve imagined what it would take to live without it.
And that’s just the beginning of what this report uncovered.
More Likely to Win the Lottery… or See WWIII
The same report found that 62% of Gen Z fear they’ll never own a home. Some of the comparisons they make are bleak:
- 21% believe World War III is more likely than owning a home in the next five years
- 17% think winning the lottery is more realistic
- 11% say they’re more likely to be struck by lightning
- 18% believe they’re more likely to become homeless
This isn’t just pessimism. It’s a reflection of deep-rooted financial stress, a lack of trust in institutions, and a market that feels completely out of reach.
They Want Stability, But Can’t Afford to Get It
Despite the doomsday comparisons, Gen Z still wants to buy. In fact, 90% say they want to own a home someday, and over half cite stability and control over their living situation as key motivators.
The problem is, the math doesn’t add up. Here’s what’s keeping them from making the leap:
- 46% say they already struggle to pay rent
- 75% say the cost of living makes it impossible to save for a down payment
- 34% have more debt than savings
- 17% have no savings at all
- 66% believe the housing market is rigged against them
Even among those who think homeownership is possible, the willingness to compromise is extreme. Nearly half of Gen Z say they’d buy a home with asbestos, mold, pests, or foundation issues just to get in the game.
And over a third (36%) said they would consider marrying someone just to afford a home.
Gen Z Doesn’t Trust the System
This generation isn’t just struggling financially. They’re skeptical of the entire structure of the market. According to the report:
- 72% believe they’ll be forced to rent forever
- 69% feel financially punished for being born when they were
- 28% blame their own spending habits
- 62% assume their peers who bought a home got financial help from family
A full 30% of Gen Z say they wouldn’t feel confident buying a home without help from family. Nearly 1 in 3 have already moved back in with their parents to save for a home, and 41% say they’d keep living rent-free with their parents indefinitely if they could.
What This Means for Agents
This isn’t just an affordability problem. It’s a mindset challenge. Real estate agents working with Gen Z need to understand the emotional landscape as much as the financial one.
Here are a few takeaways to keep in mind:
- Lead with transparency. Gen Z wants real numbers, real options, and real talk. Overpromising will backfire fast.
- Help them feel seen. Acknowledge the obstacles without feeding into hopelessness. Show empathy, then offer solutions.
- Educate before you sell. Many in Gen Z don’t even believe a path to homeownership exists. Your job is to show them it does and how to walk it.
The bottom line: Gen Z isn’t lazy, reckless, or unrealistic. They’re overwhelmed. They’re financially strained. And they’re looking for someone who can cut through the noise and help them figure out what’s actually possible.
