If high home prices, rising interest rates, or the thought of "am I really ready?" has you feeling stuck on the sidelines of homeownership, you're definitely not alone.
According to the 2025 NextGen Homebuyer Report, almost 60% of Gen Z and Millennial buyers believe they'll own a home one day—but only 19% feel now is the right time to buy.
So what's everyone else doing?
They're getting creative.
From teaming up with friends to turning part of their house into an income stream, young buyers in Tampa Bay are finding new ways to get the keys. Here are four popular strategies that are helping first-time buyers break into the market this year—plus how to know if one might work for you.