4 in 10 Boomers Never Plan To Sell Their Home and Move

Core insights: 

• 4 in 10 boomers never plan to sell their home
• Only 3% of boomers think their generation is to blame for the housing affordability crisis
• 44% of millennials will take on a second job to afford a home
• 41% of millennials believe the government should incentivize boomers to move

4 in 10 Boomers Never Plan To Sell Their Home

Many boomers (37%) say they never plan to sell their home, while 7% plan to sell within the next year, 22% within one to five years, and 18% within five to 10 years. Additionally, 9% don’t plan to sell for another 10 to 20 years, and 8% say they won’t sell for at least 20 years.

For those who never plan to sell, the top reason is that their current home is already paid off (57%). Another 40% don’t want to leave their neighborhood or community, 39% say moving is too much of a hassle, and 36% feel there’s no better alternative available.

Among boomers who don’t plan to sell anytime soon, the most common reason is also not wanting to leave their neighborhood or community (50%), followed by the home being paid off (47%) and the hassle of moving (42%).

“Many boomers are staying put simply because the idea of uprooting decades of memories and belongings is overwhelming,” says Reagan Phillips, Home Organization & Storage Expert at Storage Units. “As a home organization expert, I see firsthand how emotional and logistical the process of downsizing can be. Every box holds a story, and sorting through it all feels like letting go of a life they’ve carefully built.”

Millennials Are Taking on Second Jobs, Delaying Family Plans, and Moving Back Home To Afford a House

About 10% of millennials don’t think they’ll ever be able to afford a home, and only 37% say they currently own one. Meanwhile, 38% say they’re very likely to afford a home at some point, and 15% say it’s likely.

Among those who believe they’ll eventually buy, 25% think they’ll purchase a home within the next year, and 53% say they’ll do so within one to five years. Many are already preparing to make sacrifices or putting plans in place to reach that goal.

In fact, 44% plan to take on a second job. Others are willing to settle for a smaller home than they wanted (37%) or move to a less desirable area (24%). Some are exploring alternative approaches: 21% plan to buy with a friend or family member, 16% say they’ll get married to afford it, another 16% will delay having children, and 14% are moving back in with their parents to save money.

Among millennials who have already purchased a home, many report taking similar measures. Nearly 24% say they bought a home farther from where they originally wanted to live, 16% bought with friends or family, and 14% delayed starting a family. Another 14% said rising costs delayed their ability to buy, and 12% moved back in with family to save money before purchasing.

“Millennials are determined to put down roots and create a space that reflects who they are. As someone who helps people organize and settle into new homes, I see how much they value having a place to personalize, even if it means sacrificing luxuries to get there,” says Phillips.

4 in 10 Millennials Believe The Government Needs To Incentivize Boomers To Sell

Younger adults say boomers are clogging up housing inventory, and 41% believe the government should encourage or incentivize older adults to move and free up homes. Only 16% of boomers agree.

Still, nearly all boomers (97%) reject the idea that their generation is to blame for the current housing affordability crisis. Instead, most say millennials are struggling to buy homes because of the high cost of living (72%). More than half (55%) also acknowledge that a lack of available homes is driving up prices.

Some boomers point the finger back at millennials themselves: 41% say millennials lack financial discipline, 38% cite student debt, and 27% believe millennials simply expect too much.

Methodology: This report is based on data from a survey commissioned by StorageUnits.com and conducted online via Pollfish in June 2025. The survey included 600 respondents aged 61 and older who currently own a home and 600 respondents aged 28 to 44.