What Millennials Buying Homes Means for Your Church

By all accounts, 2020 was supposed to be the year for Millennials to take over the home buying market. While they are buying houses later in life compared to their Boomer and Gen X predecessors, Millennials were predicted to account for over 50% of housing sales by this spring, compared to just 36% of the market in 2018. (Anecdotally speaking, in my circle of friends, eight couples—all Millennials—have bought either their first or second homes within the last six months.) It remains to be seen, however, whether the current economic crisis will have a long-term effect on the housing market and Millennial home buying trends.

So what could this mean for your church?

Think Like a Parish

In buying a home, Millennials are looking to settle down and invest in their immediate communities for the long-term. Even if they don’t have kids yet, they are definitely eyeing the safety of their new neighborhoods and checking out the local school districts. If they don’t already have a church home, they are probably going to be looking for a congregation in their local community, not one that’s a twenty minute commute away. For churches, the opportunity here is to think more like a parish, or a neighborhood church. As Millennial homeowners seek to invest in their local communities, make a commitment to invest in your immediate community, too, through local outreach and marketing strategies. For example, if you are in a suburban context, don’t go after the downtown urban hipster crowd through your next postcard mailer campaign.

Make the Financial Ask

Millennials buying houses is an indication that they have greater amounts of disposable income, perhaps for the first time in their adult lives. They may feel like they have reached a level of stability in their careers and they can take on the risk of a mortgage payment and the additional financial burdens of home ownership. While their extra income may not yet be finding its way into your offering plates, you might be able to begin taking risks yourself in making the ask of your most committed Millennial members: “Would you be willing to support us financially or increase your giving?” Of course, make the financial ask in a way that is tactful and appeals to their sense of meaning and purpose. Be sure they know where their money is going through clear financial disclosures and intentional missional giving strategies.

Offer Practical Help

Many first-time Millennial homeowners are going to find themselves in home-repair situations they have never been in before: How do you replace rotted drywall? What do you do if your water heater goes out? Who do you call to get an estimate for your fence to be replaced? Your church could be a source of practical help by offering workshops, mentorships, or how-to classes for Millennials who may struggle in these areas. Many Millennials weren’t taught these skills by their working Boomer parents, and while they could easily Google the answer, they would much rather make a personal connection with someone in their community who could give a hands-on tutorial.

 What are some other ways that your church could reach out to Millennial home buyers? Join the conversation @thinkburlap on Twitter.