Locked out of housing, Gen Z and Millennials are building wealth in the stock market instead as they reach record high $3.1 trillion in holdings

Gen Z and Millennials are increasingly turning to the stock market for wealth-building due to unattainable home prices, amassing a record $3.1 trillion in holdings. Rising home costs have delayed homeownership, with the average first-time buyer age rising from 28 in 1992 to 40 in 2025. Experts note shifting investment behaviors, including using stock proceeds for down payments and prioritizing retirement savings over homeownership.