The 13- to 17-year-olds of “Generation Z” believe homeownership is more important than graduating from college, getting married or having children. Inman reports to MHProNews that teens in the survey indicated that they’d give up perks like video games, eating out, social media or music downloads if it meant affording any house they wanted. That’s per results to an online survey of 1,000 teens conducted between July 18 and July 29, commissioned by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

“We have a clear view of tomorrow through our millennial consumer research — now it’s time to look at the day after tomorrow,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

The study suggests good news for home builders, but not so good news for realtors.

97 percent of respondents expect to own a home in their lifetime. Only 41 percent expect they’ll find their future home with the help of a real estate agent, which if true, is a clear departure from the 89% of home shoppers today who say that using an agent yielded helpful information in home buying. 19 percent said they are likely to purchase a home online. No surprise that while some realtors found the study interesting, they’re not buying the results.

Here are survey results from the NAR research study:

In the future, which of the following steps of the home buying process, if any, are you likely to do online?

Response	Percent of respondents
View home listings	85%
Take a virtual tour	71%
Video chat with real estate agents	29%
Sign paperwork	19%
Purchase the home	19%
None of these	5%

Source: Wakefield Research 

On-line comments to The Better Homes and Garden Real Estate study was primarily from real estate agents stressing the importance of the service of a Professional Realtor. An Atlanta realtor responded on-line with this reaction.

“Oh how I try not to be cynical….but this business makes it so very hard. Surveys of 13-17 year olds? Really? Are we at that point now? I have one of those and one just past that, ask them the same “survey” every day for a week and you’ll get seven different results.”

Does this study suggest opportunities for manufactured housing?

“The opportunity to forge a new image with the younger generation can’t be missed,”  said L. A. Tony Kovach, managing member of LifeStyleFactory Homes, LLC, parent company to MHProNews  and MHLivingNews.com. “They are ready to be different. We offer a home that is similar – yet different! – with manufactured and modular homes.” ##

(Photo credit: Shutterstock/Inman)

(Submitted by Michael Francis to Daily Business News – MHProNews.)