With homeownership slipping further out of reach, Gen Z and young millennials are looking elsewhere to build wealth and the stock market is fast becoming their new safe haven.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, rising home prices, high interest rates, and affordability pressures have pushed young adults away from buying property. Instead, many are choosing to rent and invest aggressively in equities.
Data from the JPMorgan Chase Institute shows that the share of people aged 25 to 39 contributing to investment accounts more than tripled between 2013 and 2023. This marks a dramatic shift in how younger Americans view long-term wealth creation.
At the same time, the housing market has become increasingly unfriendly to first-time buyers. Figures from Redfin reveal that younger buyers’ share of the housing market fell to 44% in 2025, down sharply from 51% in 1999. For many, owning a home now feels more like a distant dream than a realistic goal.
Researchers say the math is also changing. In today’s market, renting a home and investing the savings in stocks can often deliver better financial outcomes than stretching finances to buy property.
With flexibility, liquidity, and long-term growth potential, the stock market is increasingly seen as a smarter play.
For Gen Z, the message is clear: if buying a house is out of reach, make your money work elsewhere. And right now, Wall Street not Main Street; is where many young investors are placing their bets.
