Generation Z is leading the dream of homeownership in Brazil. Half (50%) of young people aged 18 to 28 say they intend to buy a property. This is revealed by the “Retratos do Morar” (Portraits of Living) survey, conducted by Ipsos-Ipec and commissioned by QuintoAndar Group. This percentage is higher than the national average (41%).
What holds back this desire to acquire a residence, not only for Generation Z but for Brazilians in general, are mainly financial issues. According to the survey, 41% of respondents say they do not have the money for a down payment or financing (a percentage that reaches 47% in the case of Generation Z). Another 30% say prices have risen too much, and 21% point to very high interest rates as a barrier.
Also according to the research, 37% say they would very much like to save money but admit that current expenses already consume all or almost all of their income.
“The research is part of our continuous effort to listen to and understand the real needs of Brazilians, and it perfectly captures a major current dilemma: the dream of homeownership is alive, especially among younger people, but it runs into a challenging macroeconomic scenario, with high interest rates and difficulty in saving,” says Lucas Lima, COO of QuintoAndar.
The financial challenge also lengthens the timeline for buying a home: 60% of those who wish to acquire a property plan to do so in a year or more (rising to 65% for Gen Z).
“This shows the need to propose alternatives. Here at QuintoAndar, for example, we decided to use technology to revamp the traditional consortium. Our version offers cashback and a redemption option in five years, an option that can be up to 50% cheaper than common financing, unlocking paths to this achievement,” states the proptech COO.
Motivations for buying
The data shows the five main reasons for Brazilians to acquire a property currently:
- To have a better property than the current one (larger, newer, or with better infrastructure) – 31%
- To fulfill a dream – 28%
- To have the guarantee of their own property (as equity or financial security) – 28%
- To stop paying rent – 24%
- To make an investment – 22%
“Brazilians see real estate as a pillar of security and fulfillment. Our responsibility, as the largest housing platform in Latin America and with deep knowledge of consumer behavior, is to continue creating solutions that serve both those who need agility today and those planning for the medium and long term,” says Lima.
‘Tiny houses’ and ‘colivings’
Seeking to understand how people view housing models that have gained popularity in recent years, the survey reveals other interesting data.
In Brazil, 69% of respondents say, for example, that they would live or might live in a tiny house — a small residential construction with a useful area of up to 37 m², featuring multifunctional furniture and promoting a simple and sustainable lifestyle. Baby boomers have the highest rejection rate for the model: 27% state they would never live in a micro-apartment.
The percentage of respondents who say they would live or might live in cohousings is also noteworthy: 46%. Cohousings are collaborative dwellings where residents maintain private homes but share common areas, such as the garden and dining area, and make decisions jointly, promoting community life. Among those who would never live in one, 86% point to a lack of privacy as the main reason.
“The results reveal a consumer who reconciles dreams with pragmatism: they want to buy, but reprogram the decision time due to financial restrictions; they consider more compact formats when they make sense, without giving up privacy. It is a movement of planning, not of abandoning the project of owning a home,” affirms Marcia Cavallari, director at Ipsos-Ipec.
Methodology
In total, 2,485 online interviews were conducted with the Brazilian population aged 18 or older, from classes A, B, and C, in all five regions of the country. There is a representative sample of the metropolitan regions of Rio, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, and Curitiba. The survey was conducted between August 14 and 31, 2025, and has a margin of error of two percentage points.