Gen Z is prioritizing stock market investments over homeownership to build wealth, as rising housing costs and high mortgage rates put buying a home out of reach. Ms. [PERSON_NAME], 26, began investing in 2020, opening a Roth IRA and later contributing to a 401(k) and passive portfolio. She is not actively saving for a down payment, reflecting a broader generational shift.

A Pew Research Center survey found 89 percent of adults under 40 say buying a home is harder than for their parents, and young adults are less likely to view housing as a “very good” investment. Instead, they favor retirement accounts, trading apps, and high-yield savings. Fidelity reports Gen Z retirement contributions surging 65 percent year-over-year, more than double the millennial rate.

Experts like Roberta [PERSON_NAME] note Gen Z values flexibility amid uncertainty. Jeff [PERSON_NAME], 28, in [ADDRESS], faces median home prices of $700,000—75 percent higher than two decades ago. After starting with individual stocks on Robinhood, he switched to Vanguard index funds and automated Roth IRA contributions, illustrating the generation’s adaptive approach.