1. Prioritizing Walkability Over Square Footage
Back in the day, the dream was a big house with a yard in the suburbs. But now, many buyers—especially Millennials—prefer smaller homes in walkable neighborhoods. Being close to shops, cafes, and transit often ranks higher than having extra bedrooms. It’s a lifestyle choice driven by convenience, sustainability, and community.
Urban villages and mixed-use developments are booming for this reason. People want to live where they can walk their dog, grab a coffee, and see friends—all without getting in a car. It’s a shift away from isolation and toward connection. Boomers may have chased land—today’s buyers are chasing lifestyle.
2. Buying Homes Sight Unseen
Boomers would never dream of buying a house without walking through it first, let alone touching the countertops and checking the water pressure. But thanks to high demand and low inventory, today’s buyers often purchase homes based solely on virtual tours and photos. With 3D walkthroughs and video calls, people are placing offers from different cities—or even countries. It’s risky, but in a hyper-competitive market, hesitation means losing out.
This trend really took off during the pandemic, when physical tours weren’t always possible, and it stuck. Many Millennials and Gen Z buyers feel comfortable relying on their agents and tech tools to fill in the gaps. For them, it’s just another form of online shopping—albeit a very expensive one. Boomers might call it reckless, but modern buyers call it efficient.
3. Tiny Homes as a Lifestyle Choice
To a Boomer, living in under 400 square feet might have felt like punishment. But the tiny home movement has flipped that narrative, turning small spaces into symbols of freedom and minimalism. People are choosing to downsize not because they have to—but because they want to live simpler, debt-free lives. It’s not for everyone, but for many, it’s a dream come true.
Tiny homes are also being used creatively—as ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), vacation rentals, or housing for aging parents. With zoning laws slowly catching up, they’ve become a more realistic housing option in some parts of the country. They’re cheaper to build, more sustainable, and require fewer things to maintain. For Boomers raised on the idea that bigger is better, this trend is hard to wrap their heads around.
4. Renting by Choice, Not Necessity
Boomers were raised to see homeownership as the ultimate life goal—a sign you’d “made it.” But for many younger people, renting long-term is a deliberate choice. It offers flexibility, less responsibility, and freedom to move for job opportunities or lifestyle changes. Plus, with the cost of buying at record highs, renting often makes more financial sense.
Today’s renters aren’t just college grads in studio apartments. Many are professionals or families living in high-end rental communities with amenities like pools, gyms, and coworking spaces. These aren’t fallback options—they’re part of a conscious lifestyle shift. Boomers might view renting as “throwing money away,” but younger generations see it as paying for freedom.
5. Investing in Real Estate Without Owning Property
Back in the day, the only way to make money from real estate was to buy a house and rent it out or sell it later. Now, people are investing in real estate through crowdfunding platforms, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), and fractional ownership apps. You can own a slice of a rental property in another state with just a few hundred bucks. It’s real estate investing for the digital age.
These tools have made real estate more accessible to those without tens of thousands for a down payment. It’s become a favorite among younger investors who want passive income without becoming landlords. The tech is new, but the idea—earning from property—remains familiar. Boomers might be skeptical, but this trend shows no signs of slowing down.
6. Turning Homes into Side Hustles
To Boomers, your home was your sanctuary—not your side gig. But with platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, people are monetizing their homes like never before. Spare bedrooms, backyard ADUs, and even couches are now income-generating assets. In some cities, it’s not just common—it’s expected.
This has created a wave of entrepreneurial homeowners who use short-term rentals to offset mortgage costs. Some people have built entire businesses out of property management. While it’s drawn criticism for affecting local housing supply, it’s also empowered many to stay afloat financially. Boomers might prefer a stable, private home—but for others, flexibility equals opportunity.
7. Remote Work Changing Where People Live
The idea that you had to live near where you work is becoming outdated fast. Thanks to remote and hybrid work, people are moving to smaller cities, suburbs, and even rural areas for better quality of life. Affordability, space, and nature are winning out over proximity to an office. The whole map of desirable real estate is being redrawn.
During the pandemic, this shift accelerated—people left expensive metros in droves. Now, employers are adjusting policies to support remote work long-term. This trend has boosted real estate markets in places that Boomers wouldn’t have looked twice at. The old “location, location, location” rule still matters—but the definition of a good location has definitely changed.
8. Buying with Friends or Family Members
Boomers typically bought homes with a spouse—period. But younger buyers are teaming up with friends, siblings, and even coworkers to get into the market. Co-buying agreements are becoming more common, and some legal services now specialize in them. It’s all about pooling resources to overcome steep barriers to entry.
With home prices outpacing wage growth, this kind of teamwork can be the only way in. Some buyers treat it like a business deal, with contracts and exit strategies. For many, owning part of a home is better than owning none at all. Boomers might warn against mixing money and relationships—but for this generation, it’s a calculated risk.
9. Digital-Only Real Estate Agents
Once upon a time, you’d meet your agent in person and tour properties together over the course of several weekends. Today, entire real estate transactions can happen online, from virtual showings to e-signatures and video closings. Many digital-first brokerages like Redfin or Zillow Offers offer reduced commissions or cash-back incentives. The experience is faster, cheaper, and less personal.
For tech-savvy buyers, it’s a no-brainer. They get more data, more control, and sometimes even better deals. For Boomers who trusted their agents like family, the shift to apps and algorithms feels impersonal. But for many today, convenience trumps tradition.
10. Flipping as a Mainstream Career Path
Flipping used to be something you saw on late-night infomercials—not a legitimate job. But thanks to HGTV and real estate YouTubers, it’s now seen as a viable career path. People are buying distressed homes, fixing them up, and reselling them for profit—all without traditional job security. It’s risky, sure, but also potentially lucrative.
Social media has made it easier to learn and promote your flipping projects. Even Boomers are getting into the game now, but younger flippers are driving the trend. They treat it as entrepreneurship, not just real estate. It’s a hustle mindset that would have seemed unstable a generation ago.
11. Monthly Mortgage Payments Higher Than Rent
Boomers often expected a mortgage to be less than what you’d pay in rent. But in many markets today, owning a home is far more expensive month-to-month. With high interest rates, property taxes, and maintenance, renting often costs less upfront. And yet, people still stretch to buy for the long-term gains.
This flips the old logic on its head. Buyers today are betting that appreciation and equity will eventually offset the pain. It’s a gamble, especially in overheated markets. Boomers might call it financial masochism—Millennials call it resilience.
12. Moving Back In With Parents… On Purpose
Living with your parents after college used to be a sign of failure. But now it’s often a strategic move to save money or pay off debt. In fact, multigenerational households are at their highest level since the 1950s. It’s not just tolerated—it’s embraced.
Many families are even renovating homes to accommodate this setup long-term. It’s not just young adults, either—aging Boomers are moving in with their kids, too. The stigma is gone, replaced by practicality and cultural shifts. For Boomers who prized independence above all else, this is a big mental shift.
13. Building Wealth with House Hacking
House hacking—buying a multi-unit property, living in one unit, and renting the rest—is a trend gaining traction with younger buyers. It’s a way to afford a home while also generating rental income. FHA loans make this more feasible, allowing low down payments on duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes. It’s the hybrid of homeownership and investing.
This approach helps offset housing costs and builds long-term equity. Some people even repeat the process to build real estate portfolios. It’s creative, strategic, and nothing like the traditional suburban dream. Boomers might’ve thought this was too risky—but younger buyers see it as smart financial engineering.
14. Living with Roommates—Into Your 30s and 40s
Boomers typically saw roommates as a temporary situation until you got married or bought a home. But for younger generations, sharing housing into their 30s or 40s is a practical financial strategy. With soaring rents and home prices, splitting living expenses often makes the difference between saving for a down payment or not. It’s less about failure and more about survival—and sometimes even fun.
Co-living has become normalized in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Austin, where rents are sky-high. Some companies even offer curated roommate matching and furnished shared homes as a service. This communal style of living actually echoes bohemian and countercultural living arrangements from the ’60s—but now it’s driven by economic necessity. Boomers might see it as a step backward, but for many today, it’s a smart move.
This post 14 Real Estate Trends That Would Have Horrified Boomers (and Now They’re Normal) was first published on American Charm.
