With all the trouble in the housing market, it's not surprising realtors are seeking out anyone who might be an eligible buyer, and the new group is you young professionals, some barely out of college.

A year ago Lee Robbins, in his 20's, wasn't someone realtors would look at as a likely home buyer, but when the market tanked in stepped "Generation Y."

The current real state market has allowed roughly 80 million "Generation Y" Americans, which includes those born between 1977  and 1997, to purchase homes. In fact, experts expected a "Generation Y" real estate boom by 2012, and it is starting now. "We are ready to buy a house. My wife and I have rented for the last four years paying off our debt, and trying to tie up the loose ends from college," said, Robbins, a prospective home buyer.

26-year-old Joe McFadden just bought a home for his growing family and just bought a home. "I was living in a 950 square foot apartment with three adults, one child and two cats," said McFadden. "We all shared one bathroom; now we are going to have five full baths and a half bath."

Northern Virginia Real estate Agent, Frank Borgess Llosa, says, while buyers are more eager to purchase a home in the current hassle-free market, selling a home to "Generation Y" takes more than putting up a for sale sign and posting an add in the paper.

According to McFadden, 80 percent of his business is generated by his blog about home buying and his social networking-infused MLS listing Web site  that allows users to post their own pictures of properties and make comments. McFadden admits his process is very untraditional.

While using e-mail, text messaging and Facebook.com to sell a house may sound strange, it makes sense to prospective home buyer, Robbins, who uses his blackberry to check home listings. Robins says he and his wife found their wedding planner and location online, and bought their car on the Internet; and now they hope to soon find a house in cyberspace.

Related Documents

Northern Virginia Buyers and Sellers Research Guide

2008 Member Profile Report (Va.)

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