According to the survey, a whopping 87% of Gen Z believes homeownership is key to building wealth. For 65% of them, owning a home is a personal milestone. Instead of seeing it as a status symbol (20.7%), a significant 65.5% view homeownership as a path toward financial security and stability. However, the dream remains just that for many. As of 2023, a mere 25.2% of adults under 25 are homeowners, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

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So, why the disparity between aspiration and reality? The answer: soaring costs. The biggest challenge cited by nearly 80% of Gen Z is the high home prices. It’s a stark reality given that since Gen Z’s oldest members became adults in 2014, home prices have surged by 58.7%. Adding to the strain, median home sales jumped by $52,667 between 2020 and 2021, a figure that shadows the median workers' earnings of $50,000. And while some pandemic-related market pressures have subsided, the median sales price of a home in the U.S. stood at a staggering $416,100 as of Q2 2023.

But all is not lost. Fractional real estate ownership platforms like Arrived may offer Gen Z a silver lining. Cameron Wu, VP of Investments at Arrived, states, “Coming of age amid skyrocketing home prices and pandemic-era economic turbulence has given some of Gen Z financial whiplash.” He adds that platforms like Arrived are breaking down traditional barriers, enabling investment in real estate at any price point. With 58% of Arrived users born after 2000 starting their investment journey with as little as $100, there's renewed hope for Gen Z to dip their toes into the real estate market and build wealth.