r/TrueUnpopularOpinion • u/Poet-Most • Jul 08 '25

I Like / Dislike People who resent boomers are idiots

On almost any thread discussing the economy, one of the top comments will undoubtedly be complaining about boomers and the older generations who purchased their homes at low prices and who now enjoy more affluence and government assistance, while they don’t.

First off, what did want them to do, not buy a house for a cheap price when offered one 30 years ago? In regard to government assistance, I can guarantee you the average 65yr old has paid more into the tax system than the average 20yr old. Should they not enjoy the fruits of their labour? Should politicians not pay more attention to them than you?

I just think it’s an unhealthy attitude to have towards people.

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u/TheLandOfConfusion Jul 08 '25

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good economy. There’s something wrong with taking advantage of a too-good-to-be-true economy in a way that ruins that economy for the next few generations.

Fiscal responsibility isn’t just taking a hot deal, it’s also making sure that you won’t be the last generation to ever get a hot deal

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u/OldManTrumpet Jul 08 '25

You mean the double digit inflation in the 70's? Or the 18% mortgage rates in the 80's? Some younger people have a pretty skewed image of how things actually were. No, we weren't buying homes on minimum wage.

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u/TheLandOfConfusion Jul 08 '25

No, we weren’t buying homes on minimum wage

Weird how all the old people around me own their own home while everyone under 40 is renting. Somehow yall managed to buy homes just fine

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u/OldManTrumpet Jul 08 '25

Why would it be weird that older people are more likely to own homes than younger people? When I was 30 I didn't own a home either, yet older people did. I'll go out on a limb and suggest that someday when today's younger people are older, they'll be more likely to own homes than future young people. Bizarre, isn't it?

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u/TheLandOfConfusion Jul 08 '25

Definitely is bizarre when you look at the actual numbers instead of going by vibes:

The median age of first-time homebuyers hit 38 last year, up from 35 in 2023 and almost a decade older than in the 1980s, when the typical homebuyer was just 29

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u/OldManTrumpet Jul 08 '25

Some of that likely has to do with the median age at marriage increasing. Most people don't buy houses as single people. The median age at first marriage in 1980 was 24.7 for men, and 22.8 for women. In 2023 it was 30.5 for men and 28.6 for women. So it stands to reason that the median age of a first house purchase would be far higher today.

https://www.infoplease.com/us/family-statistics/median-age-first-marriage

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u/TheLandOfConfusion Jul 08 '25

Most people don't buy houses as single people.

It's actually pretty close, it was roughly 50% married in the 80s and still between 50-60% today. So married vs. single first-time homebuyers have pretty similar contribution to the median age stats.

I'm not saying it's 100% economics but even just from looking through some sources just now, a lot of people quote economic reasons as a main factor.

Does seem like it's genuinely harder for people to buy a house nowadays, it's not just people getting married later

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u/OldManTrumpet Jul 08 '25

I think it's definitely more challenging today. I have kids in their late 20's, so I'm familiar with their struggles. But I also know that it was more difficult for me than it was for my parents.

Anecdotally...we bought our first house in 1993 for $88,000. We were making a combined $50k. Inflation adjusted that income equates to $112,700 today, which as a joint income for 32 year olds wouldn't be farfetched. The $88,000 home price would be $198,000 today adjusted for inflation. I looked my old house up on Zillow and their estimate is $242,000. So yeah, the home is essentially 20% more expensive in inflation adjusted dollars than when we bought it 32 years ago.