IRVINE, CA—Despite talk to the contrary, technology is changing how mobile we need to be; this, along with mortgage-finance education, is shifting Millennials' perspective on owning a home, Network Capital's CEO Tri Nguyen tells GlobeSt.com. According to new analysis by the Pew Research Center, Millennials are less mobile than the previous four generations were at the same age. This finding doesn't seem to match the notion that Millennials are the least likely to be married or have children since, lacking geographical ties, many would assume this cohort to be relocating and traveling excessively.
But Pew's recent analysis demonstrates a deeper issue that concerns economists because moving has traditionally been linked to job opportunities and homeownership. And as the economy improves, one would expect people to be moving in greater numbers, but, in all, just 6% of Millennials who moved last year said their primary reason was to own a home.
Nguyen has built a team heavily staffed with Millennials, which he leverages to listen for insights on how to best appeal to the biggest cohort since Baby Boomers. We sat down with him for a chat about the seeming dichotomy between mobility and Millennial homeownership.
GlobeSt.com: There has been much talk about how Millennials prefer renting to buying a home because of their love of mobility—yet this research shows the opposite. How can this be reconciled?
Nguyen: Educating young consumers about mortgages, and finances in general, is the only way to resolve this paradox. When you understand the importance, significance and impact that real estate finance can have on your life and future, you're able to discern for yourself what your best option is. The key thing to remember is that very few things are permanent. There's no reason one can't be a mobile property owner. If you qualify for a mortgage now, it's in your best interest to invest in a home. It will provide security for the future (in the form of a tangible, valuable asset) and an additional source of potential income through renting.
GlobeSt.com: How is Millennials' reduced mobility from previous generations related to jobs and the economy?
Nguyen: Millennials are faced with a unique set of challenges when it comes to jobs and the economy, but that's going to change soon. It was only recently that the Great Recession was a huge factor for not only those entering the job market, but those who had already been a part of it for decades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued recovery at a growth rate of .6% annually through to 2024. With technological advances, increasing the ability to work remotely (and effectively), and the continued encouraging economic data, I believe it's not only possible—but probable—that this generation will usher in a new way of working, living and thriving. The economy is a living, breathing entity that evolves along with the times. In coming years, two out of three jobs that open up for college graduates will be because of previous generations' retirements. As we continue to recover into greater economic strength (and especially as Baby Boomers begin to retire), the jobs market and mobility will both continue to improve for young adults, creating new opportunities.
GlobeSt.com: What's the best way for the housing industry to appeal to Millennials and entice them to buy?
Nguyen: The strongest appeal will come through education. Many young consumers simply lack understanding of all the options and opportunities that property ownership can afford them. There's no need to “entice” someone to buy when they comprehend the overwhelming advantages that homeownership offers. We're aware of the lack of accessible, digestible information regarding mortgages for young consumers and work diligently to be a resource of information through our blogs, articles and by educating our employees so they, in turn, can educate borrowers.
GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm?
Nguyen: We truly are a mortgage lender like no other. Our passion lies in so much more than being just another mortgage company. It's our desire to be at the forefront of changing the way people relate, react and respond to the real estate industry. We're constantly working on new technological advances to make our process more enjoyable and efficient and to create trust and transparency in an industry that, for so long, has had a negative stigma attached to it. We're not just in the business of funding loans; we're in the business of financing lives.
IRVINE, CA—Despite talk to the contrary, technology is changing how mobile we need to be; this, along with mortgage-finance education, is shifting Millennials' perspective on owning a home, Network Capital's CEO Tri Nguyen tells GlobeSt.com. According to new analysis by the Pew Research Center, Millennials are less mobile than the previous four generations were at the same age. This finding doesn't seem to match the notion that Millennials are the least likely to be married or have children since, lacking geographical ties, many would assume this cohort to be relocating and traveling excessively.
But Pew's recent analysis demonstrates a deeper issue that concerns economists because moving has traditionally been linked to job opportunities and homeownership. And as the economy improves, one would expect people to be moving in greater numbers, but, in all, just 6% of Millennials who moved last year said their primary reason was to own a home.
Nguyen has built a team heavily staffed with Millennials, which he leverages to listen for insights on how to best appeal to the biggest cohort since Baby Boomers. We sat down with him for a chat about the seeming dichotomy between mobility and Millennial homeownership.
GlobeSt.com: There has been much talk about how Millennials prefer renting to buying a home because of their love of mobility—yet this research shows the opposite. How can this be reconciled?
Nguyen: Educating young consumers about mortgages, and finances in general, is the only way to resolve this paradox. When you understand the importance, significance and impact that real estate finance can have on your life and future, you're able to discern for yourself what your best option is. The key thing to remember is that very few things are permanent. There's no reason one can't be a mobile property owner. If you qualify for a mortgage now, it's in your best interest to invest in a home. It will provide security for the future (in the form of a tangible, valuable asset) and an additional source of potential income through renting.
GlobeSt.com: How is Millennials' reduced mobility from previous generations related to jobs and the economy?
Nguyen: Millennials are faced with a unique set of challenges when it comes to jobs and the economy, but that's going to change soon. It was only recently that the Great Recession was a huge factor for not only those entering the job market, but those who had already been a part of it for decades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued recovery at a growth rate of .6% annually through to 2024. With technological advances, increasing the ability to work remotely (and effectively), and the continued encouraging economic data, I believe it's not only possible—but probable—that this generation will usher in a new way of working, living and thriving. The economy is a living, breathing entity that evolves along with the times. In coming years, two out of three jobs that open up for college graduates will be because of previous generations' retirements. As we continue to recover into greater economic strength (and especially as Baby Boomers begin to retire), the jobs market and mobility will both continue to improve for young adults, creating new opportunities.
GlobeSt.com: What's the best way for the housing industry to appeal to Millennials and entice them to buy?
Nguyen: The strongest appeal will come through education. Many young consumers simply lack understanding of all the options and opportunities that property ownership can afford them. There's no need to “entice” someone to buy when they comprehend the overwhelming advantages that homeownership offers. We're aware of the lack of accessible, digestible information regarding mortgages for young consumers and work diligently to be a resource of information through our blogs, articles and by educating our employees so they, in turn, can educate borrowers.
GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm?
Nguyen: We truly are a mortgage lender like no other. Our passion lies in so much more than being just another mortgage company. It's our desire to be at the forefront of changing the way people relate, react and respond to the real estate industry. We're constantly working on new technological advances to make our process more enjoyable and efficient and to create trust and transparency in an industry that, for so long, has had a negative stigma attached to it. We're not just in the business of funding loans; we're in the business of financing lives.
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