Ismael Lele

Tulsa World Reporter

Owning a home, once seen as an eventual reward for people who went to college, earned a degree and worked a full-time job, has become less attainable for young Tulsans.

While previous generations had a more straightforward path to homeownership, millennials and Generation Z are facing steeper financial hurdles as housing costs rise while wages continue to stagnate and student loan debt overburdens many graduates.

Sally Perez, managing broker at EXIT Realty Connex in Tulsa, put it bluntly.

“Younger, first-time homebuyers do not have money for a down payment and their closing costs,” Perez said. “That is the No. 1 issue, whether it’s buying a home or renting a home.”

Such is the case for 23-year-old Jeanne Spencer, a native Tulsan who said she recentl

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