by Jeff Ogden
Senior Vice President of Production at Gershman Investment Corp

As a loan officer working to appeal to millennial clients, it’s essential to understand their unique needs and concerns. For many millennials today, one of the primary challenges is saving for a down payment. While many in this demographic may feel ready to become homeowners, they don’t necessarily have the funds in their bank accounts to make the down payment they need. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean they need to abandon their hopes of homeownership. Instead, with some key adjustments, they may be able to save the money they need to make it happen. Here are some of the most important strategies:

Reassess Current Budget

For millennials who don’t have enough put aside to make a down payment, it’s essential for them to delve into their budget. What are their current spending habits? Which expenses are necessary, and which ones could be reduced? For many, it’s simply revisiting their budget with clear priorities. If homeownership is a top goal, it becomes easier to sacrifice certain things you’ve simply gotten into the habit of spending money on. Get rid of the non-essentials, and recreate your budget from there. How much do you need to save each month to arrive at your down-payment goal?

Consider Creating a Second Income

Sometimes, student loan debt and high rent may mean that even adjusting their budget isn’t quite enough. In these situations, it’s important to evaluate your time availability and your skills. I’m not suggesting taking on another full-time job. But cultivating a side gig of some sort can help millennials rapidly accelerate their saving progress. Anything from tutoring or writing to selling things online can help you bring in extra cash each month, and many of these jobs allow you to create your own schedule. If you can’t get your budget to add up the way you need, consider starting up a side gig to get your numbers where you need them to be.

Go Automatic

For those who maybe are not in the habit of saving money every month, automating your savings plan can be a great strategy. Instead of needing to manually transfer money into a savings account on your own, you can have it happen automatically. If you ensure that you’re putting the minimum amount you need away each month, you’ll give yourself a great foundation. If you find you have money left over at the end of the month, any additional savings will get you to your goal even faster.

Create a Plan

Saving for a down payment might take some time, and having a plan can make it easier to hold your course. Forecast how long it will take you so that you know where you are in your journey. It’s also worth researching different programs. For some millennials, they may be able to get a mortgage without the standard 20% down payment. A loan officer could also help you evaluate these different mortgage options.

For loan officers who are marketing to millennials, understanding their needs is a must. 

by Jeff Ogden
Senior Vice President of Production at Gershman Investment Corp

When working with millennial homebuyers, you’ll often hear that this was a question they gave much consideration to. Does it make more sense to rent or to buy? While the answer will certainly be different for everyone, there are some key misconceptions out there as well as valuable points in either direction. When it comes to millennials, many are surprised to find out that homeownership might make more sense for them. Here’s why:

Monthly Cost

This is one of the most common arguments you’ll hear from millennials about renting over buying. Usually though, those who believe it’s more expensive to buy haven’t done very much research into the monthly breakdown of homeownership. It will certainly vary depending on location, but in many cases, owning a home may put you at the same or even lower monthly payments as you have when renting.

Equity

Even if your monthly payments are the same amount when you own your home compared to when you rent, there’s a big difference in where that money is going. When you rent, it’s going straight into your landlords pocket, and when you decide to leave the apartment, that’s where it will stay. On the other hand, when you own a home, your monthly payments are building equity. Should you decide to move sometime down the line, you’ll have built up equity in your home that will help you make your next step. This is a major financial advantage of owning a home.

Customization

This is another reason why many millennials are so happy to make the switch from renting to owning. When you own your home, it’s yours. If you’re going to pay to live in a space, you want to be able to make it work for you. While landlords often have restrictions on what tenants can change and require advanced permission, homeowners have more of a blank canvas when it comes to their space. This is a real bonus if you’re hoping to stay put for a while. It will allow you to set your place up for your needs now, and adapt as your life and style changes.

Community

While renters can certainly be part of a community, homeowners tend to put down deeper roots. When you own a home in a neighborhood, it often feels more like your own. This can be a definite plus for millennials who are ready to start their own lives in a new place.

Freedom

Finally, one of the major concerns some millennials have about buying is a lack of freedom. They think that owning a home keeps them tied down while renting allows for complete freedom. This isn’t often the case. First of all, your first home doesn’t have to be your forever home. Buying a home doesn’t mean you’re committing to one spot for life. Maybe you decide to take a 6-month trip somewhere. Renting or subletting could cover your mortgage while you’re away. Sure, if you’re planning a year-long around-the-world adventure for the near future, you might hold off until you return. But if you have no immediate plans to move to a new city, buying a home doesn’t mean sacrificing your freedom.

When it comes down to it, there are many reasons why homeownership makes a lot of sense for millennials. These are just a few of the top advantages. 

by Jeff Ogden
Senior Vice President of Production at Gershman Investment Corp

For loan officers who want to excel with millennials, understanding young families’ home-buying needs is crucial. Many millennials are at an age where they may have one or two younger children to consider in the process. When this is the case and they’re purchasing their first home, there’s a lot for them to think about. The more aware you are of these things, the better you can help prospective clients from the very beginning of their journeys. Here are some of the most important things young families should think about before diving into the home-buying process:

Consider a Homeowner Education Class

The more informed you are, the smoother the process tends to go. Especially when you’re thinking about how buying a home will impact your family, you want to get as much information as you can ahead of time. Taking a course will give you an overview of what to expect and help you prepare ahead of time for the many stages of the homebuying process.

Get Realistic About Finances

Young families often have a lot of new expenses. It’s important that they take the time to assess these expenses and future expenses, including things like childcare and extracurricular activities. Creating a budget for your family is different than creating a budget for yourself, and younger families should be sure they’ve given this adequate attention before diving into the process. You want to have a strong sense of where you’re at so that you know what you can afford going forward.

Clarify the Needs of Your Family

Young families often decide to buy a home to meet the many needs of their family. It’s essential that homeowners get clear on these needs and prioritize the most important ones. Otherwise, the house-hunting process can be chaotic and exhausting. Is finding the perfect neighborhood for your kids top of the list? Perhaps somewhere with great schools? Maybe you want to be close to relatives. How many bedrooms do you need? What kind of space do you want for your kids? A playroom? A backyard? Make sure you know the difference between your wants and needs. Know which things are great but can be sacrificed and which are your must-haves.

Look Ahead

In addition to considering your family’s current needs, you also want to look ahead. Families needs can change significantly over time, and you want to choose a house that can grow with you. Are you anticipating more children in the future? You’ll want to consider that when it comes to space, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. Perhaps you have a baby now, but how much space will a five-year-old child require? Looking ahead to the ways in which your family may change is key to making a decision that fits long term.

For any homebuyer, and especially for young families, preparation is key. If you want a smooth process that leads you to a decision you feel confident about, getting started on these things ahead of time is the best strategy. Is there anything else you’d recommend to young families considering buying their first home? Please share your thoughts!