Hispanics are not only the fastest growing minority in the United States, but according to the Hispanic Wealth Project’s (HWP) 2017 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report, they would prefer to own a home rather than rent.
Hispanic Millennials—who are entering their home-buying years—are particularly eager for homeownership. This group is educated, are entrepreneurs and business owners that over index on mobile use, and 9 of 10 say wanting to own a home is part of their Hispanic DNA.
For them, it’s not a matter of if but when and how they will become homeowners.
An optimistic outlook is also a trait of Hispanic Millennials, who generally are more positive about the future than the average Millennial. They are also confident in their ability to handle different types of tasks that are part of their day-to-day lives. And at 35 percent, the share of bilingual Hispanic Millennials with a household income of $100,000 or more is consistent with U.S. Millennials as a whole
Homeownership challenges
Yet, despite their optimism and goal of homeownership, Hispanic homeownership at 46.2 percent lags when compared to the overall U.S. home ownership rate of 63.9 percent in 2017.
There are signs the gap could narrow; Hispanics are the only demographic to have increased their rate of homeownership for the past three years. Moreover, the report shows Hispanics are responsible for 46.5 percent of net U.S. homeownership gains since 2000.
Still, the 2017 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report notes that a shortage of affordable housing, prolonged natural disasters in states with a significant Hispanic presence (California, Florida, Texas), and uncertainty over immigration policy could hinder Hispanic homeownership growth.
An opportunity to reach Hispanics
It seems most Hispanic Millennials will strive for homeownership at some point in their life, as they believe owning a home is best for their family’s future. With no convincing needed, there is a tremendous opportunity for mortgage providers to look deeper into the reasons behind Hispanic Millennials’ optimism to determine how to insert themselves into that dynamic.
Research highlights the importance of creating interest in financial advice and making this a potential means of gaining trust. Hispanic Millennials who gain a better understanding of the benefits—not only for them but for generations to come—and costs of owning a home may translate their confidence into action.
