Millennials are growing older, and, while not ready to buy homes yet, they are still slowly starting to enter the market. Lenders will need to prepare for this new generation as they turn their interests to settling down and buying a home.
So what makes this generation tick? What makes them different than other generations?
A recent blog by Lexa Michaelides for Inc. talked about 10 reasons why Millennials are getting seriously discouraged.
Well, I'm a Millennial, and I couldn’t disagree more.
Her first point is that very few are passionate about their job, and that they choose being practical over their passion. First of all, not only is that not something that’s specific to Millennials, but it’s not necessarily bad, it’s just part of growing up. At some point every generation will do it; they will become responsible and get a job that will pay the mortgage.
The second point she mentions is that “the wild fantasies of many of my peers are really basic lifestyles,” as Michaelides puts it. She mentions Millennials just wanting a simple apartment, a dog and "manageable" debt.
She’s right about student debt, it has become a growing problem that seems impossible to escape. That being said, I’ve never gotten, or seen another Millennial get “seriously discouraged” because one of their peers holds the simple dream of getting a small apartment and a dog.
Actually, we really don’t care. Maybe I’m in the wrong circles? After all, there are more than 75 million of us. Either way, we still don't care.
She mentions that many Millennials are ready to get involved with their social beliefs and politics, however they are criticized for either being too young to understand or not getting involved enough. If someone truly felt strongly about their social belief and wanted to do something, but all it takes to stop them is a little criticism from the older generations, there’s a problem.
Her Inc. piece also talks about social media.
She writes that interpersonal relationships can be just as meaningful online as face-to-face. Yet, according to a study done by the Pew Research Center, the average Facebook user never even meet 7% of their online friends. So, that is a very small number to make the statement they are just as meaningful or important.
She continues on to talk about a couple different things in her article including nostalgia from looking back at the difference between now and our childhood, and Millennials not truly feeling like adults yet. Are these true? Yes. Do they distinguish us from other generations? No. Are we “seriously discouraged” by this? No, we’re really not.
We may not make everlasting friendships online but we are perfectly comfortable conducting our financial affairs in an 100% digital environment. Michaelides is sad because she misses the point of being online; there is a huge power to get things done. I'd argue that Millennials are perfectly comfortable getting a loan online, in fact, we prefer it.
Yes, Millennials are different from previous generations, just like every generation has been different from the generation before. What makes us different is that we are more connected through social media and the web, and we have the ease of technology at our fingertips, and therefore more access to information. What’s more, Millennials expect more from lenders when it comes to technology.
But expecting more and having our own wants and needs is a far cry from being “seriously discouraged.”
In fact it's deeply motivating; I plan to apply for a mortgage online in a couple of years and nothing is going to stop me.
