Episode 17

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Published on:

17th Aug 2025

Episode 17: Gen Z homeowners and the housing crisis

Home prices near record highs. Insurance premiums skyrocketing. First-time buyers squeezed out. So… is this 2008 all over again—or something different?

We’re breaking down the state of the housing market: what’s really driving costs, why affordability is at a crisis point, and what Gen Z buyers are up against.

Why Should We Care About Housing?

🏡 National home resale median hit $435,300 in June—while sales fell 2.7% month-over-month

📈 Household income needed to buy a typical home: ~$117,000 (up 50% in just five years)

💰 A 20% down payment now eats up ~73% of median household income

📉 First-time buyers are only ~24% of purchasers

🌊 Only 14% of Black Gen Z own homes vs. 30% of White Gen Z

💬 What In Your World? We want to hear from you:

  • Do you think Gen Z will ever match Boomer homeownership rates?
  • Would you buy in a cheaper city just to own—or wait it out?
  • If you’re renting, what’s your biggest barrier to buying?

📢 Don’t forget to follow What In The World? for your weekly fun take on serious news:

📸 INSTAGRAM: @whatinworld_pod

🎵 TIKTOK: @whatintheworldpod

🌐 WEBSITE: whatintheworldpod.com

#housing #realestate #homeownership #genz #economy #whatintheworld

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About the Podcast

What In The World?
A Fun Take On Serious News
There’s a LOT going on in the world these days. From unpredictable geopolitics and dysfunctional economic markets to the nonstop evolution of entertainment and digital culture, it’s no wonder that Gen Z feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of news and the flood of information on social media.

What In The World? is a podcast hosted by Laura and Eugene, Gen Z who understand the tension between staying informed and tuning out the news. With backgrounds in global affairs, finance, history, business, and more, this duo will provide fresh, balanced perspectives to keep you informed and interested in the headlines that have you saying “what in the world?”