Crypto Assets Rival Real Estate Among Gen Z as Homeownership Becomes Less Achievable: Report

Investment preferences between generations are increasingly different. A recent survey Conducted by Policygenius and YouGov found that 20% of Generation Z (ages 18 to 26) own cryptocurrencies, a figure that is notably higher than ownership of stocks (18%), real estate (13%) and bonds ( eleven%). . Owning real estate is less common among younger generations due to affordability issues.

“Housing affordability is at its lowest point since the Great Recession, as a combination of high interest rates, stagnant incomes and low housing stock have put (homeownership) out of reach for many Americans.” said the survey.

According to the survey results, millennials (ages 27 to 42) show a slightly higher propensity to invest: 27% own stocks and 22% own cryptocurrencies, while 24% have invested in real estate.

The data suggests that baby boomers continue to adhere to traditional investment patterns, with the highest ownership of stocks (33%) and real estate (45%). However, their engagement with cryptocurrencies (5%) and nfts (1%) is minimal, indicating a stark generational divide in digital asset adoption.

All generations value financial professionals, but older generations rely on them more, the survey found. Compared to previous generations, “Generation Z and millennials are more than twice as likely to turn to social media first for a financial issue.” In contrast, only 2% of Generation x and baby boomers would check social media first.

The survey further shows that 62% of millennials and Gen Z have tried at least one financial “hack,” such as no-spend challenges or “infinite banking” (borrowing against a whole life insurance policy). These tricks, often popularized on social media, have generated significant engagement, with no-spend challenges racking up more than 90 million views on TikTok.

The survey also explores the emotional aspect of financial management, revealing that 31% of baby boomers are proud of how they manage their finances, a sentiment that is less common among younger generations, and 23% of Generation Z expresses the same level of pride.

“This makes sense: Baby boomers are on average wealthier and more likely to own real estate than younger generations,” the survey says.