Fresno a haven for Gen Z homebuyers
A recent report by Rent Cafe found that 24% of Gen Z adults in the Fresno area have achieved homeownership, positioning the city as a “hot spot” nationally for buyers in their 20s. Fresno ranks 12th of 97 metro areas analyzed in U.S. for the largest concentration of Gen Z homeowners, and number one in the state, just ahead of Bakersfield.
That trend stands in contrast to broader national patterns, where the typical first-time homebuyer is much older. According to the National Association of Realtors, as of late 2025 the median age of a first-time homebuyer in the U.S. reached a median age of 40, in large part because high mortgage rates, limited inventory, and significant down payment requirements force buyers to wait longer.
So, what’s up with Fresno?
According to Kyle Chaney, Governmental Affairs and Public Relations Director for the Fresno Association of Realtors, for young buyers, it starts with price. Fresno is one of the last places in California where buying a home doesn’t require a coastal salary.
“For families and young professionals looking to put down roots, Fresno County offers something increasingly rare in California, a place where homeownership is still within reach,” he said.
The California Association of REALTORS®’ Q4 2025 Housing Affordability Report confirms as much. While the statewide median home price sits at over $850,000, Fresno County’s median is approximately $430,000.
The median price slipped even further in March to $425,000, according to realtor.com.
“That affordability gap is drawing a steady wave of relocators from the Bay Area and Los Angeles, who find they can trade a long commute and a small apartment for a spacious home, a great neighborhood, and a yard, often for less than they were paying in rent,” Chaney said.
Moving the goalposts
Nationally, younger buyers are taking more unconventional paths to homeownership. It used to be that the major life milestones—marriage, home, children—were accomplished in that order. But a 2025 Coldwell Banker survey found that 84% of Gen Zers say they’re scrambling the milestones just to afford a home.
Recent research from the National Association of Realtors corroborates this: Just 26% of new buyers aged 18-26 are married, a staggering 34-40 percentage points below every other age demographic studied. By way of comparison, 65% of 27–35-year-old homebuyers are married, followed by 66% of those aged 36-45.
The Gen Z demographic is dominated by solo buyers and unmarried couples, in fact. Single women make up 35% of new homebuyer households, followed by single men (18%) and unmarried couples (17%).
How are they doing it?
Jason Farris, CEO and founder of FresYes Realty Group, says many young people who score a set of housekeys are doing so primarily through their parents.
“A lot of first-time homebuyers on the younger side are getting assistance from Mom and Dad,” he said.
Some rely on co-buying with partners, friends, or a parent, or moving to more affordable, lower-cost-of-living areas (like Fresno). Others are relying on down payment assistance programs (DPAPs), usually provided by state or local governments, nonprofits, or lenders and designed to cover the upfront costs of purchasing a home.
New construction is also an avenue, said Farris, where builders typically offer help toward closing costs, money toward a down payment and, if buyers go with the builder’s preferred lender, “there are perks that typically make it easier.”
The caveat with new construction, Farris warned, is a major life change—a marriage, for example, or a relocation—that necessitates an earlier-than-expected home sale in a development that is still in the building phase.
“Then you’re competing with the builder,” Farris said, “and they have deeper pockets. Why go used when you can go new?”
It’s okay to start small
Gen Z still represents a small slice of the overall housing market, accounting for just a fraction of total buyers. First-time buyers as a whole are also shrinking as a share of the market, reflecting ongoing affordability challenges driven by limited inventory and elevated mortgage rates.
Even so, Farris says the data out of Fresno highlights a persistent reality: the desire for homeownership remains strong, even among younger generations navigating a more complicated economic landscape.
His advice to younger homebuyers? Don’t be afraid to start small.
“It’s okay to buy a one-bedroom, one-bath,” he said. “You don’t have to have the traditional three-bedroom, two-bath from day one.”
That’s because homes historically appreciate and, over time, increasing values allow buyers to move up.
“We have a house that we raise our kids in, we scuff up the walls, we let our dogs run around,” Farris said. “We use our homes every day, and for some crazy reason, they’re worth more money later than when we bought them.”
And when it comes to purchasing a home in California for any age buyer, not just Gen Zers, Farris offered this: “All roads lead to Fresno,” he said. “Absolutely.”
For more updates on Fresno County development and business initiatives, stay connected with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
