Why Miami\'s Millennials Are Eager To Buy Their First Home

$\"\"$ Miami\’s first-time homebuyers say purchasing a home is more affordable than renting, and it could push them to buy soon, according to newly available data from Bank of America.

Local young homebuyers are focused on saving and see homeownership on the horizon. Forty-three percent of Miami buyers surveyed are among the most likely to plan to purchase their first home within the next two years. At 78 percent, the vast majority believe owning is more affordable than renting in Miami and 42 percent want to buy because they want a place to call their own.

BofA’s second-annual Homebuyer Insights Report, released this morning, reports that 80 percent of millennial homeowners view owning a home as having a positive impact on their long-term financial picture. Additionally, 68 percent of those young buyers say they view their current home as a “stepping stone” to their forever home.

The survey was conducted by GfK Public Communications and Social Science on behalf of Bank of America. More than 4,900 adults ages 18 and older were surveyed to produce a national sampling. Sampling was conducted in 10 individual markets, producing tailored results in those cities: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Phoenix , Miami, St. Louis and New York.

But putting down 20 percent of a home\’s price for a down payment may be why less than a quarter of millennial homebuyers think they can buy a home now.

“After years of seeing millennials sit on the sidelines, it’s clear some are recognizing it might not make sense to wait,” said D. Steve Boland, consumer lending executive for Bank of America, in a statement. “We talk to younger buyers every day about homeownership, and they understand the benefits it can have on their long-term finances. They’re excited to get started but are taking a thoughtful approach by improving their credit and building their savings.”

When Miami homeowners decided to buy, they were more likely than their national counterparts to set a budget. About 41 percent went to open houses.

According to the data on all markets surveyed in the nation, 86 percent of all millennial homeowners (defined as buyers between the ages of 18 and 34) believe owning a home is more affordable than renting. That compares to the results from prospective homeowners who were surveyed, with 54 percent of that latter group saying owning is the way to go compared to 45 percent preferring to rent.

Other results from the survey:

Almost half of first-time buyers believe they need 20 percent or more of a home’s price for a down payment.
Prospective buyers say their financial priorities beyond planning to purchase a home are paying off debts and bills (61 percent of respondents), improving credit scores (47 percent) and paying off student loans (32 percent).
Sixty percent of current homeowners across generations said they would tell their younger selves to start saving sooner to make that first home purchase.

Source: SFBJ