Empowering First-Time Homebuyers in 2025
For many, buying a home is more than just a transaction; it’s a personal milestone, a place to create memories and build a family. Yet, for first-time buyers, the journey to homeownership has never been more challenging. Elevated home prices, higher mortgage rates, and a tight housing inventory have created an uphill battle, leaving many would-be homeowners feeling discouraged and stuck in a repeat path of renting.
At First Home Partners, we recognize these challenges and are proud to partner with employers across Iowa to offer a unique employee benefit designed to help ease the path to homeownership. Our Homeownership Assistance Benefit helps employees turn their dream of buying their first home into a reality.
Why First-Time Homebuyers Need Support
The statistics paint an uphill battle that warrants support. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the percentage of first-time homebuyers as a representation of the entire home buying market has plummeted to a historic low of 24%, down from 40% before 2008.
Source: NAR
The Reasons are Clear
Rising Costs: Home prices and mortgage interest rates remain high.
Debt and Savings Challenges: Nearly half of prospective buyers say that high rent is preventing them from saving for a down payment, compounded by student loans and credit card debt.
Changing Demographics: The median age of first-time buyers has climbed to 38 years old—far from the late 20s norm of the 1980s—reflecting the increased financial hurdles to homeownership.
Given these obstacles, it’s no surprise that many first-time buyers are turning to family and friends for help. In fact, 25% of buyers received a gift or loan to make their purchase possible through financial assistance for their downpayment.
A New Era of Employee Benefits
This is where we come in. Our Homeownership Assistance Benefit is a powerful tool employers can offer their employees to help make homeownership more attainable. Where a commitment can be made to move forward with a home search and purchase knowing they have the interest rate flexibility to adjust their monthly costs over a period of 18 months post purchase with us.
Our benefit provides the following features to help empower employees to achieve their personal goals of homeownership.
Interest Rate Monitoring
Freedom Financing
Homeownership Head Start
For employers, it’s a win-win: a chance to enhance their benefits package, improve employee satisfaction, and foster long-term loyalty, without a PEPM cost to do so.
Why 2025 Could Be the Year to Buy
Although the housing market remains challenging, recent improvements in inventory are creating new opportunities for first-time buyers. Current homeowners may have an edge with equity and cash purchases, but first-time buyers equipped with the right resources—like our Homeownership Assistance Benefit—can still find success in this competitive environment.
We’re here to help employees take the leap into homeownership with confidence. Together, we can turn aspirations into street addresses. Building not only personal stability but also a deeper commitment to their workplace and community through a place to truly call home.
