The System Is Rigged—But That Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Win

Let’s be real: the housing market feels impossible right now, and for good reason. Home prices have skyrocketed, wages haven’t kept up, and investors are out here buying starter homes in cash like it’s a sport. Meanwhile, millennials have been fed a steady diet of “just stop buying lattes” financial advice while corporate landlords rake in record profits. Yeah, the system is rigged—but that doesn’t mean you can’t beat it.

If you still dream of owning a home but feel like it’s out of reach, I’m here to tell you: it’s not. But you’ll need to approach it differently than previous generations did. Let’s break down the real barriers and how you can work around them.

The 3 Biggest Barriers to Millennial Homeownership (And How to Get Around Them)

1. Wages Stagnated While Home Prices Soared

In 1970, the median home price in the U.S. was about $23,900 (around $180,000 in today’s money). The median household income? Roughly $9,870 (or about $75,000 today). Fast forward to now, and the median home price is $417,700, while median income is just over $74,500. See the problem?

So, what do you do when the math doesn’t add up?

How to Work Around It:

• Ditch the 20% down payment myth. You can buy a home with as little as 3-5% down through first-time buyer programs, and some loans require zero down. Stop waiting to hit an arbitrary savings goal that may never come.

• Consider house hacking. Buy a multi-family home, rent out part of it, and let tenants cover a chunk of your mortgage. Or get a place with a rentable space (basement, ADU, extra bedroom) and start building equity while someone else helps pay the bills.

• Leverage first-time buyer grants and assistance programs. Many states offer down payment assistance, tax credits, and special loan programs designed to help first-time buyers get in the game. The catch? You have to know where to look (hint: I do).

  
  

2. Investors and Corporations Are Snatching Up Homes

Here’s an infuriating fact: corporate investors bought nearly 25% of all single-family homes in 2023. That means you’re competing against cash offers from hedge funds that want to turn starter homes into overpriced rentals.

How to Work Around It:

• Focus on local lenders. Big banks move slow, but local credit unions and community banks can help you move faster with better financing options.

• Work with an agent who knows how to beat investors. Investors love easy wins. They rarely deal with complicated contingencies or homes that need minor repairs. That means we can target listings they’ll overlook and negotiate terms that favor you.

• Look for off-market deals. Pocket listings, estate sales, and fixer-uppers can be great ways to sidestep corporate competition. These properties often never hit Zillow, so having the right network is key (hi, that’s me again).

  
  

3. The Rent Trap Keeps You Stuck

Landlords love to tell you that renting is “more flexible” and “stress-free.” Meanwhile, rents have risen over 150% in the past two decades, and renters have zero control over when their costs go up.

How to Work Around It:

• Stop assuming homeownership is “too expensive.” Your rent is already expensive, and it’s only going up. Even with high home prices, a mortgage (especially on a fixed-rate loan) keeps your payments stable over time.

• Use renting as a stepping stone, not a life sentence. If you’re currently renting, make sure you have a game plan for transitioning into homeownership. That might mean negotiating a shorter lease, setting up an automatic home-buying savings fund, or getting pre-approved so you’re ready when the right home pops up.

  
  

The Bottom Line: You Can Win

Yes, the system is rigged, but that doesn’t mean you have to play by its rules. You can find ways to outmaneuver corporate investors, sidestep outdated homebuying myths, and break free from the rent trap.

The key? You need a strategy—and a real estate agent who actually gets what it’s like to buy a home in today’s market (hi again, that’s me). If you want to start putting a plan together, let’s talk. Because you deserve a home of your own—and we’re not going to let a broken system stop you.

👉 Let’s chat about your homeownership strategy. Shoot me a message or schedule a call!