A Man Asks Elderly People About Their First Home Prices, and We Can’t Believe the Answers

Influencer Delo, known as @dangeloruff, stirred up a discussion by asking older people about the prices they paid for their first homes. The responses were eye-opening, with many viewers shocked by the seemingly lower costs compared to today’s market. This sparked a conversation about the perceived financial advantages enjoyed by previous generations, often referred to as «boomers.»

A man may have figured out why young adults still live with their parents.

In September 2023, the median home price in the United States was $412,000. Back in 1984, the median price nationwide was a lot lower, sitting at $79,900, according to data from the US Market Historical Conditions database.

In one of his videos, a man in a blue shirt strolling through Home Depot is asked, «How much did you pay for your first house?» His answer? «$37,000.»

The person asking is visibly stunned. «But that was back in 1980,» he acknowledges. Adjusting for inflation, $37,000 in 1980 is equivalent to about $147,973.95 today, or roughly four times its original value. Quite a leap, isn’t it?

The prices left us speechless too.

In another video, the TikToker approaches a woman walking with a gentleman, assuming she might be his spouse. However, the man clarifies that she is actually his mother-in-law. Curious, the TikToker asks her about her first home’s price. With a smile, she answers, «$16,000,» leaving the TikToker speechless once again.

Continuing his series, the TikToker approaches another couple in a different store, asking them the same question. The woman in the red jacket responds, «$25,000.» Stammering a bit, the TikToker inquires about the year of purchase, to which the woman replies, «45 years ago.»

The comments were filled with surprise from everyone who watched the videos.

In yet another video, shot at a Walmart location, the TikToker poses the same question to another woman standing by her cart filled with assorted items. One person claimed that the boomer generation had it the easiest, suggesting that making, earning, and maintaining a living during that time was far less challenging than it is today.

Another person chimed in, suggesting that the ease might have been due to the significantly lower costs of homes back then, and that’s why people back lived better. They speculated that a house bought for $25,000 could have been sold for $700,000 later on.

The cost of living is higher nowadays, hats off.

This sentiment was echoed by someone else who mentioned a hypothetical scenario of buying a house for $30,000 in 1985 and selling it for $500,000 in 2022-23, implying that such opportunities were missed.

In today’s real estate landscape, purchasing a house has become increasingly challenging for many aspiring homeowners. Skyrocketing prices, coupled with fierce competition and limited inventory, have created significant barriers to entry into the housing market. Factors such as rising costs of living, stagnant wages, and mounting student loan debt further exacerbate the struggle for prospective buyers.

As a result, achieving the dream of homeownership has become an uphill battle, requiring meticulous financial planning, patience, and often compromises on location or property size. Moreover, the ongoing housing affordability crisis highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions and policy interventions to ensure that homeownership remains within reach for a broader segment of the population.