LGBTQ+ REAL ESTATE REPORT REVEALS 23% OF GEN Z WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+ MAY FALL BEHIND HETEROSEXUAL PEERS IN WEALTH BUILDING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP

Cleveland, Ohio (June 11, 2026) – The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ trade organizations with approximately 3,000 members, unveiled its sixth annual LGBTQ+ Real Estate Report, revealing LGBTQ+ Gen Z Americans, who make up 23% of the entire generation according to Gallup, may face greater challenges than their heterosexual peers in career advancement, wealth building, financial stability, and access to homeownership in the coming years.

The report, released as the Alliance began meeting today in Washington D.C. for its annual LGBTQ+ Housing Policy Symposium, utilized an apples-to-apples comparison model to allow nearly 400 survey respondents to evaluate two identical Gen Z individuals whose only difference was that one identified as heterosexual and the other identified as LGBTQ+.

“There has been so much discussion about the wealth gap that exists in our nation and the potential lack of access to homeownership. As the number of young adults self-identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community has risen to nearly 25% of the entire Gen Z population, we wanted to explore how this group may fare in the future,” said Tommie Wherle, President of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. “Our report makes it clear that LGBTQ+ Gen Z adults will likely fall behind in the workforce, acquiring wealth, gaining financial stability, and entering homeownership.”

KEY FINDINGS: 

1. 58.6% all respondents believe heterosexual Gen Zers will gain a work promotion before an LGBTQ+ person.
2. 68.1% of all respondents believe heterosexual Gen Zers are more likely to reach senior leadership roles ahead of an LGBTQ+ young person.
3. 56.6% believe young heterosexual adults are more likely to build significant wealth than an LGBTQ+ Gen Z person.
4. 78.9% of respondents believe heterosexual individuals are more likely than a similar LGBTQ+ person to receive family financial support, such as inheritance or down payment assistance.
5. Respondents indicate homeownership is the defining asset for heterosexual young adults in gaining their “American Dream”. The top 6 milestones in achieving the “American Dream” for heterosexuals are:
   1. Homeownership
   2. Financial independence
   3. Marriage
   4. Having a stable career
   5. Freedom to pursue personal passions
   6. Living in a safe community
6. The rankings are dramatically different for an LGBTQ+ person. The top 6 milestones are:
   1. Living in a safe community
   2. Financial independence
   3. Freedom to pursue personal passions
   4. Marriage
   5. Equal access to career opportunities
   6. Homeownership
7. 41.6% of all respondents expect heterosexual individuals to purchase their first home between the ages of 30 and 34 years of age. The full rankings are:
   1. 21-24 (2.3%)
   2. 25-29 (25.7%)
   3. 30-34 (41.6%)
   4. 35-39 (17.2%)
   5. 40-44 (3.6%)
   6. 45+ (1.8%)
8. LGBTQ+ young adults may not achieve homeownership at that same pace, as 33.2% of all respondents believe the LGBTQ+ young person will enter homeownership between 30-34, while 28.8% said homeownership would occur between 35-39 years of age. The full rankings are:
   1. 21-24 (1.3%)
   2. 25-29 (8.7%)
   3. 30-34 (33.2%)
   4. 35-39 (28.6%)
   5. 40-44 (11.1%)
   6. 45+ (3.1%)
9. For those who believe the LGBTQ+ person would enter homeownership later, the top five cited reasons for the delay are:
   1. Less financial support from family
   2. Housing discrimination or the fear of it
   3. Lack of down payment funds
   4. Lack of career stability
   5. Starting a family later

“The findings should concern everyone involved in housing, real estate sales, and public policy,” Wherle said.  “There are approximately 70 million people in Gen Z, with approximately 16 million who self-identify as LGBTQ+. We cannot afford to leave such a sizable number of people behind. Today’s policies attacking our community by the current administration and in statehouses around the nation will have severe consequences down the road if there is not a course correction.”

A download of the full report is available here.

Methodology: Nearly 400 survey respondents (389) were asked to compare and contrast how two Gen Z people will fare in the future. The survey explained the two were identical in where they live, ethnicity, education, intelligence, work ethic, and ambition. Their lone difference was one was heterosexual and the other LGBTQ+. 

Alliance members participated in the annual member survey while consumers participated via Facebook outreach.

ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ REAL ESTATE ALLIANCE

 The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is a 501(c)6 non-profit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the path to homeownership as we also advocate on behalf of the community on housing issues. The Alliance, founded in June 2020, is an all-inclusive organization that works to improve the professional lives of its members through a public-facing Alliance Referral Community. The Alliance began accepting members in October 2020 and has more than 2,600 members and dozens of chapters in North America. It was named the 2022 Inman News Innovator of the Year in the MLS, Association, or Industry Organization category. Its public-facing website, LGBTQplusHomes.com, provides information on home buying and selling along with allowing the LGBTQ+ community the opportunity to reach Alliance members for their real estate needs. For more information visit realestatealliance.org.