Sept. 11, 2025

The NextGen HomeBuyer Report 2025: What Loan Officers Must Know with Kristin Messerli

The NextGen HomeBuyer Report 2025: What Loan Officers Must Know with Kristin Messerli
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Season 6

Overview:
In this episode of Loan Officer Life: Hustle, Heart & Homeownership, host Brian Vieaux (President & COO, FinLocker, CMB) sits down with Kristin Messerli, Executive Director of FirstHome IQ and Publisher of the NextGen HomeBuyer Report, to unpack the 2025 NextGen Financial Literacy Report.

This year’s study goes beyond knowledge gaps to reveal the psychological and behavioral roadblocks facing Gen Z and Millennial buyers. From the persistent 20% down payment myth to the explosion of AI-driven education, Kristin shares the data every loan officer needs to reframe their strategy for first-time buyers.

Key Topics Covered:

  • Why only 8% of respondents knew the correct minimum down payment for a conventional loan—and what that means for your pipeline.

  • How financial overwhelm and complexity paralyze buyers—and the opportunity for LOs to lead with clarity.

  • The massive trust shift: why young buyers trust influencers and peers more than lenders.

  • AI’s new role in homebuyer education: how Gen Z is using ChatGPT before they ever call an originator.

  • The FirstHome IQ Quiz: how LOs can use this tool as a lead generator and education platform.

  • Building trust earlier: aligning findings with J.D. Power’s origination satisfaction research.

  • Practical ways loan officers can “show up” as educators, not just application takers.

Why Listen:
If you’re a loan officer navigating shrinking trust, shifting buyer expectations, and increasing competition, this episode provides actionable steps to:
✓ Bust common myths that stall first-time buyers.
✓ Design simple, visual, and inclusive education strategies.
✓ Leverage AI collaboration instead of competing against it.
✓ Build lifetime clients by engaging buyers earlier in their journey.

Resources Mentioned:

 

Kristin Messerli Profile Photo

Kristin Messerli

Executive Director

Kristin Messerli is the Executive Director of FirstHome IQ, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the next generation about homeownership. Kristin is also a leading strategist and keynote speaker on housing and finance trends in young and diverse markets. Kristin has worked with hundreds of lenders, startups, and nonprofits to craft successful go-to-market strategies and build trust with their consumers.
 
Kristin founded and sold the digital marketing agency, Cultural Outreach, with the mission to promote sustainable homeownership in underserved communities. She was previously the VP of Sales and Strategy at Experience.com and has consulted with numerous fintech startups across product design, marketing, and research. Kristin produced and authored the 2020-2025 NextGen Homebuyer Reports, highlighting key insights from over 6,000 NextGen homebuyers. Kristin holds her Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. To access more information on her research and nonprofit, visit KristinMesserli.com.