Today’s ResiClub letter is brought to you by Stessa!
Track Every Dollar with Stessa—Effortlessly
Managing rental property finances doesn’t have to be a headache. With Stessa, real estate investors can simplify accounting, automate transaction tracking, and stay organized—all in one powerful, easy-to-use platform. Link your bank accounts, property managers, and financial institutions for a clear, accurate financial picture across your entire portfolio.
Stessa also makes bookkeeping stress-free. Track income and expenses by property or portfolio, scan and retrieve receipts on the go, and ensure every transaction is categorized to maximize your deductions. Whether you’re managing a portfolio locally or spread out across the country, Stessa keeps you in control from virtually anywhere.
📹 Watch the Demo and see how Stessa can streamline your rental property finances.
The Housing Market is Being Transformed by Lifestyle Delays
**Are you feeling the shifts in the housing market?** The *lifestyle delay* phenomenon is reshaping it in profound ways. Younger generations are not just redefining priorities; they are pushing traditional life milestones further into adulthood. This means staying in school longer, marrying later, and—yes—having children at a later age, with many opting for fewer kids overall.
**This isn’t a recent trend.** The shift towards delayed life transitions has been in play for decades and spans across the developed world.
**What does this mean for the housing market?** As marriage and parenthood are often stepping stones to home-buying, their delay complicates the timing of first home purchases. With the *median age of first-time homebuyers* hitting **38 years old in 2024**, a significant change from **28 in 1991**, we can see the implications of this shift vividly.
True, the spike in first-time homebuyer age can be partially credited to sky-high housing affordability issues we faced in 2022, but **lifestyle shifts** are undeniably significant players as well.
Concurrently, when Americans finally do form households, those households are increasingly *smaller*. Birth rates are down, and more adults are living either alone or with fewer dependents. The rise in **1-person** and **2-person households** highlights this transition, while larger family units continue to dwindle. Curious to learn more? Check out this article on *[shrinking households and their market impact](https://www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/shrinking-households-evolving-market-housing-sectors-quiet-transformation)*.
**What Can Housing Stakeholders Do?**
So, what can housing stakeholders do to benefit from these profound changes? Here are some actionable insights:
**Embrace the Trend:** The housing landscape is unlikely to revert to the past; today’s younger buyers are entering homeownership later in life. Understanding this new normal will be vital for future strategies.
**Focus on Affluent Millennials and Gen Z:** Pay attention to the preferences of *affluent 30-somethings* and even *40-somethings*, as they represent a meaningful share of first-time homebuying activity. Nurturing relationships with them can turn first-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers.
**Seize Rental Opportunities:** There is a growing market of late 20s and 30s individuals who are extending their rental phase. Build-to-rent communities can cater to these delayed first-time buyers, providing an ideal alternative without the heavy commitments of ownership.
**Are you an investor in the real estate market? 🏠**
Join the conversation by participating in the *[Stessa-ResiClub Real Estate Investor Survey](https://www.stessa.com/?utm_source=resiclub&utm_medium=partner_email&utm_campaign=stessa&utm_term=manage&utm_content=home)*.
The survey results will soon be published in ResiClub and other major media outlets, providing valuable insights into evolving market dynamics.
As we navigate this transformative landscape, stay tuned for additional housing research articles available exclusively to ResiClub PRO members (paid tier).
