Will the Housing Market Shift When Boomers Are Gone?

By Diane Cardano-Casacio

I'm an expert in real estate marketing and negotiation. With innovative strategies and sharp negotiation skills, I help home sellers sell quickly, creatively, and for top dollar while saving them money.

As a real estate professional, I’ve worked with baby boomers for years and have seen firsthand how they shaped the housing market. There’s a lot of talk about the “silver tsunami.” If you don’t know what it is, it is the idea that millions of homes will hit the market as boomers downsize or pass on. This is a huge opportunity for Gen Z and Millennials as it gives them the chance to buy homes at an affordable price.

However, the reality is more complex. While experts like Freddie Mac predict up to 9 million homes could enter the market over the next decade, many boomers aren’t in a rush to sell. They’re living longer, aging in place, and financially secure. Some forecasts suggest 30 million homes could hit the market soon, but I don’t see that happening. Many boomers I’ve spoken to want to stay in their homes, and when they do move, those properties often stay within the family.

At the same time, Millennials and Gen Z are entering the housing market in large numbers, with about 8.5 million new households expected in the next decade. Even if more boomer homes come on the market, it likely won’t be enough to meet the rising demand from younger buyers.

So, what’s the real solution to the housing crisis? We need to build more homes, particularly affordable ones. We can’t wait for demographic shifts to solve the problem. Local governments need to update zoning laws, provide incentives for builders, and invest in infrastructure to support new developments. We also need more skilled workers in the construction industry to make these homes a reality.

The bottom line is this: we can’t rely on the silver tsunami to fix the housing market. If we want to solve the crisis, we need to act now and start building more homes. Otherwise, it is going to be difficult to become homeowners without spending hundreds of thousands or millions in purchasing a property. If you need help in finding the best home buying deals, you can reach out to me at (215) 669-6285.