82 percent of Parents are now saving for their children home down payments
Coldwell Banker says Parents treat down payments like college funds now.
The short version
- Fifteen percent of current homeowners received family help to buy.
- Gen Z buyers rely on family money even more heavily today.
- Most family help is expected to be paid back over time.
Check your savings goals this week. Coldwell Banker, the national real estate brokerage chain, just released a new report showing that 82 percent of Parents with young children are saving or considering saving for a child's future home down payment. The company's 2026 American Dream Report reveals that down payment funds now sit right alongside college funds in family budgets.
Among Parents of children ages five and under, 14 percent have already started saving for a house, compared to 20 percent saving for college. Mary Lee Blaylock, the president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates, said multigenerational planning is becoming a regular fixture at the closing table.
"Coldwell Banker-affiliated agents are increasingly sitting down with buyers and their Parents at the same table, mapping out down payments, timelines and what's realistic in this market," Blaylock said. Fifteen percent of all recent homeowners received family help with their down payments, a figure that jumps to 26 percent for younger Gen Z buyers.
The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults also found that 7 percent of Americans now co-buy homes with friends or non-romantic partners to crack the market. Despite high interest rates and record prices keeping affordability tight, family capital is bridging the gap, though most recipients are expected to repay the money.
For anyone planning a family purchase soon, expect lenders to ask detailed questions about gift letters and loan repayments.
