Why Are Millennials Buying Homes For Their Dogs?

It’s no secret that millennials are obsessed with their pets, most notably their dogs. They’re making Instagram and Twitter accounts just for their dogs, investing in custom-made clothing and organic pet treats and food that ensure a healthy life for their pups. It should be no wonder then that this generation is making home purchasing decisions based on their dogs, too.

A recent survey by SunTrust Mortgage found that a third of millennials who have already gone through with the first-time home purchase did so because of the space their dog needed. The survey went through and asked respondents why they chose to buy their first home, with “dog” being the third most commonly cited reason by the respondents. Yes, that means it came above children and marriage for those taking the survey. More living space and opportunity to build equity were able to edge out the dog question.

For the millennials taking the survey who don’t yet own dogs, they (42%) answered that their dog would be a key factor in making the home buying decision in the future.

Space For The Pups

When asked further about their responses to the questions, a few millennials offered up their answers, stating that keeping dogs in tight, small apartments was mean. Leaving dogs home all day on a third-floor apartment without any space to run around is inhumane and just not right when it comes to dog owning, stated the millennials.

The desire to give one’s dog the best life possible is one that real estate brokers are seeing more frequently among their clientele. As an environmentally and socially conscious generation, millennials want to save the planet, eat organic produce, and practice humane animal owning practices that provide the dogs with the very best life possible. 

Realtors from North Carolina, in an NBC News article, stated that “A lot of times they’ll go into the house, through the kitchen, and then walk right into the backyard and say ‘this works perfectly for my dog.’ Or they’ll look to see whether there’s a fence, or if they can make one for their dog in the allotted space.

Pup Amenities

There’s also the concern of sleeping space for the pups, as well as sink and bathroom spaces for cleaning the dog and keeping it well groomed and healthy. Basically, millennials are looking at their pets as their children, and are touring houses with this kind of mentality. 

Why are millennials so into their dogs?

Some argue that since 27 percent of millennials hold a college degree, that could be linked to their obsession with animal welfare. Animal treatment has long been tied to socioeconomic and education levels.

Either way, the dog-loving trend is here to stay, and many millennials are indeed picking homes that are most compatible with their family pup.