San Diego's housing crisis now comes with a familiar soundtrack: the creak of old bedroom doors as grown kids move back home. Today, Mayor Todd Gloria turned up the volume on a national alarm about young adults returning to their childhood rooms because they simply cannot afford a place of their own.
For millions of under-35 Americans, that stalled launch into independent living is not just awkward, it is costly. Careers get delayed, homeownership gets pushed into the distant future, and fewer new households form in cities across the country.
National Numbers Show How Crowded the Nest Has Become
According to Realtor.com, a record 25.2 million adults under 35 were living with their parents in 2025, roughly one in three nationwide, a share that has climbed back to its pandemic peak. The report finds that about 70% of 25 to 34-year-olds living at home have jobs, yet they are still locked out of the market.
Realtor.com's researchers point to a national housing supply gap of roughly four million units and a median home listing price of about $430,000, around 34% higher than before the pandemic. All those would-be renters and first-time buyers who are still staying with family represent what the analysts describe as latent demand that would otherwise put pressure on rental units and starter homes.
Pricey States Feel the Squeeze First
Reporting on the Realtor.com analysis, The Guardian notes that the share of young adults living with parents climbs above 39% in California and exceeds 44% in New Jersey, showing how already expensive markets amplify the crunch.
The Guardian also cites Realtor.com economist Hannah Jones, who stresses that the trend is not a jobs story and that many of these young adults are employed but still cannot find realistic housing options.
Local Leaders Double Down on Building More Units
Todd Gloria's post is part of a wider push by city and state officials who argue that the housing mess will not clear without a lot more construction. In his X post, the San Diego mayor called for a straightforward solution in two words: build more homes.
A growing share of Americans under 35 are living in their childhood bedrooms again not by choice, but because housing is unaffordable. The solution is simple: #BuildMoreHomes. https://t.co/IgMxlF43uz
— Todd Gloria (@ToddGloria) July 10, 2026
At the state level, lawmakers are moving AB 2433, known as the Affordable Homes Bonus Law, which would modernize California's density bonus program to encourage more for-sale and affordable units, according to the bill text on California Legislative Information. Local advocates say changes like these could unlock more entry-level housing inventory without relying on massive new subsidies.
Why It Matters For First-Time Buyers And The Market
The National Association of REALTORS® reports that the typical first-time buyer is now 40 years old, a record high that captures just how long it is taking people to move out on their own and into ownership. Delayed household formation can shrink the window for building home equity and slow down turnover in the starter home segment of the market.
That backdrop helps explain why mayors and housing groups are leaning hard on supply-side fixes. More homes at entry-level prices could free up the broader market and shorten the wait for independence for those still living with family.
Whether the Build More Homes mantra turns into concrete policy will depend on political will and how quickly proposals become permits and rooftops. For young adults parked in their old bedrooms and the parents hosting them, the math is fairly simple: more reasonably priced homes should mean more independence and more new households across the country.
