Why Helping Employees Become Homeowners Is So Important
The National Association of REALTORS® recently reported a milestone that should stop both employers and working Americans in their tracks: the share of first-time home buyers has fallen to a historic low of just 21%. At the same time, the typical age of a first-time buyer has climbed to an all-time high of 40.
That’s not just a housing statistic; it’s a signal that homeownership is slipping further out of reach for the very people who need it most: early and mid-career workers trying to build stability and long-term wealth.
NAR’s deputy chief economist Jessica Lautz described the issue clearly: the market has become a “tale of two cities.” On one side are buyers with significant equity, able to make large down payments or even all-cash offers. On the other side are first-time buyers, still struggling to enter the market at all.
And the long-term consequences are real.
As NAR’s Shannon McGahn explained, delaying homeownership from age 30 to age 40 can mean missing out on roughly $150,000 in equity on a typical starter home — wealth that many families would otherwise build over time.
The Good News: Interest Rates Are Finally Starting to Move in the Right Direction
While affordability remains a challenge, there’s an important shift happening, interest rates are finally easing compared to recent highs.
For many employees, that creates a window of opportunity, but only if they feel prepared to act. And that’s the real issue future home buyers are facing today: it’s not just affordability, it’s confidence.
Many employees don’t know:
What they can realistically afford
What does their credit score mean for their mortgage options
How to navigate and complete the pre-approval process
Where to find a trusted mortgage lender and realtor
A Meaningful Tool: Homeownership Assistance as an Employee Benefit
That’s where our homeownership assistance benefit can make a measurable difference.
When employer groups offer our free, voluntary benefit, employees gain access to structured guidance that helps them move from “thinking about buying” to confidently taking the next step. Employees receive financial education and mortgage readiness support through Northwest Bank where they help them understand credit, improve their score when needed, and navigate the pre-approval process with clarity.
From there, they’re matched with a REALTOR® who fits their personality and has local market expertise in the community where they want to buy.
And once the home purchase is complete, the benefit delivers real monetary savings — helping employees reduce costs and keep more money in their pocket.
What First Home Partners offers is a turnkey solution for employees who are wanting to purchase their first home, or trade-up into a bigger home and desire the support and financial advantages our benefit provides.
