The Changing Landscape of Homeownership in Mexico
Monterrey, NL. The average age for acquiring a home in Mexico has increased from 29 to 39 years over the past three decades. Factors influencing home purchasing or rental decisions include demographic shifts, high construction costs, limited affordable inventory, and restricted incomes, according to Ignacio Torres, co-founder and CEO of 4S Real Estate, during the 2025 Housing Summit organized by Canadevi Nuevo León.
Torres’ Presentation: Ultra-Differentiation in Real Estate Projects
During his presentation titled “Ultra-Differentiation in Housing Projects: Redefining the Emerging Generation,” Torres reviewed the evolution of housing preferences and the challenges facing the local market.
Impact on the Monterrey Real Estate Market
According to 4S Real Estate, this phenomenon is already affecting the Monterrey real estate market. “Previously, at 29, you would be starting your home; today, at that age, you’re still comparing rental prices on an app. The average age rose from 32 in 2018 to 39 by 2025,” the executive highlighted.
Factors Delaying Homeownership for Millennials and Future Generations
This delay in homeownership for millennials and subsequent generations prolongs the working cycle before purchasing a home. The cause isn’t solely demographic; limited incomes are also redefining access to housing,” Torres emphasized.
Moreover, the Monterrey real estate market faces a growing disconnect between available offerings and buyers’ needs. Affordable vertical housing below four million pesos is becoming increasingly scarce, with a dwindling inventory limiting options for those seeking lower-priced apartments.
Horizontal housing doesn’t paint a completely rosy picture either. Prices have soared, and it’s concentrated outside the metropolitan area. In areas like Cumbres, a house costs at least four or five million pesos, forcing those working in the city center to endure up to an hour-long daily commute.
Additionally, traditional family structures are changing. Where marriage and children were common in past generations, today mixed families or young adults living alone predominate. Many of these individuals opt for well-located apartments over traditional houses.
Understanding Ultra-Differentiation
While demographic changes have pushed back the homebuying age, they aren’t the sole explanation for market transformation. Limited incomes and high construction costs are hindering housing access and driving rent growth. Meeting this demand has become a cost and creativity challenge for developers.
In this context, Torres warns that the solution lies in ultra-differentiation: designing projects that genuinely connect with increasingly diverse lifestyles. Today’s young adults value proximity to work, nature connection, wellness-promoting spaces. These priorities are shaping the market’s direction beyond a fleeting trend.
Generational Preferences and Market Insights
According to the National Association of Real Estate Agents (NAR) Generational Buyer and Seller Trends Report, older millennials (1980-1989) and younger millennials (1990-1998) account for 29% and 71% of recent homebuyers, respectively. Younger millennials are first-time buyers in 71% of cases.
The NAR study also revealed that this generation prioritizes workplace convenience, with transportation costs being the most significant factor.
The Future of Real Estate: Catering to Diverse Homes
Torres asserts, “Generation Z is running out of options. The opportunity lies in crafting a new generational script: projects addressing diverse homes where well-being, sustainability, and proximity are priorities.”
For 4S Real Estate, this strategy not only addresses emerging buyers but also opens competitive advantages in a saturated and complex market.
