Gen Z Is Buying — On Their Own Terms
The next wave of homebuyers is here, and they're not following the old playbook.
According to NAR's 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report, Gen Z buyers (ages 18–26) made up just 4% of home purchases in the past year — but the way they're buying is already worth paying attention to.
The biggest shift? They're not waiting for traditional milestones. Over half of Gen Z buyers — 53% — purchased homes solo, and 35% were single women, the highest share of any generation.
Their motivation is refreshingly direct: 39% said they bought simply because they wanted a home of their own. And 71% view their home as a solid financial investment — with 30% saying it's a better bet than the stock market.
Financially, they're starting lean. Gen Z buyers entered the market with the lowest median household income across generations at $76,000, gravitating toward practical options — townhomes, rowhouses, and starter homes averaging 1,600 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
What This Means for Corporate Relocation
If your transferees include younger professionals — and increasingly, they do — their homebuying priorities look different than the generations before them. They're arriving solo, moving fast, thinking about investment value from day one, and gravitating toward attainable, low-maintenance homes in communities where they can put down roots quickly.
The CENTURY 21 Scheetz relocation team understands this shift. We've built our service around meeting transferees where they are — not where the industry assumes they should be. Whether your relocating employee is a recent college graduate buying their first home alone or a dual-income professional on a tight timeline, we deliver a consistent, high-touch experience across Central Indiana.
Let's talk about how we can support your transferee population in 2026 and beyond. Connect with Annie Hamilton, REALTOR® and relocation specialist at CENTURY 21 Scheetz Carmel. Annie brings deep expertise in corporate relocation and a genuine commitment to making every transferee's move to Central Indiana seamless and successful. Connect with Annie today or ahamilton@c21scheetz.com.
