Millennial money myths: The truth about homes, cars and ownership

Many have their assumption about millennials financial choices, but can you tell the money myths from fact? When it comes to big purchases such as home and car buying, most millennials would like to own, but financially might not be able to afford it. Their aspirations remain similar to past generations, but it appears that it might just take them more time to have the funds to do so. This recent CNBC article by Eric Rosenbaum shares millennial money myths that many people have come to think true.

When it comes to trying to get inside the head of millennials, don’t buy the buzz about the “don’t own” economy.

The success of start-ups like Netflix, Spotify and Uber have led to predictions that future Americans will choose not to own and drastically shape the future consumer society. But when it comes to big purchases — the kind that can be very good or very bad financial decisions — millennnials are not that different than past generations.

Fifty-three percent of millennials own homes and overall, 88 percent of millennials who do not own a home have one on their wish list, according to a survey conducted by Qualtrics, a Provo, Utah-based survey software firm, and venture capital firm Accel Partners (a Qualtrics investor).

“The sharing economy is here to stay and has changed how many people work and live. But it doesn’t mean that traditional purchases such as cars and homes are less enticing to millennials,” said Mike Maughan, head of brand growth and global insights at Qualtrics — and a millennial himself.

Nearly 80 percent of millennials own cars and 75 percent of millennials who don’t own a car aspire to own one now, the Accel + Qualtrics Millennial Study 2017 found.

“The world is changing, but in some areas maybe not as much as we think,” Maughan said. “They’re not afraid to put down roots,” he said. He noted that the number of millennials who aspire to own homes holds steady whether they live in metropolitan or rural areas.

Maughan said the data is even more important now as millennials enter their peak spending years.

Homes, guns, Siracha sauce: What millennials purchase

Smartphones: 98 percent
Energy drinks: 64 percent
Organic food: 54 percent
A home: 53 percent
Any item over $2,000: 40 percent
Tattoos: 40 percent
Musical instrument: 38 percent
Firearm: 26 percent
Siracha sauce: 16 percent

(Source: Accel + Qualtrics Millennial Study 2017 )

Millennials may be a transitional generation when it comes to consumer preferences, but busting the myths of the “Don’t Own” economy is an important part of ensuring that financial decisions made today by millennials are the best ones for their future.

Sophia Bera, founder of Gen Y Planning and a member of the CNBC Digital Financial Advisor Council, said she sees evidence that millennials are truly transitional when it comes to views on home ownership.

“I am noticing more millennials buy or rent depending on area they are in, seeing people go from renting to buying to selling and renting again to buying again, as opposed to buying and hold that property for decades,” Bera said.

In one way, home ownership is working out well alongside millennial generation developments. “They are much more likely to become landlords, buying with the ability to rent it out or ‘Airbnb it,’ Bera said.

The financial advisor also sees great potential downside to home ownership as a default consumer position, stemming from a core millennial need greater than ownership — mobility.