"Millennials prioritize down payment cash over wedding gifts for affordable housing market"

As housing market affordability becomes increasingly strained, more millennial and Gen Z couples are opting for cash contributions towards a down payment on a home instead of traditional wedding gifts. This trend of establishing "first home funds" on wedding registries has gained popularity in recent years, with 16% of couples registering in 2022 creating such funds. The rising cost of weddings, coupled with the challenges of affordability and competition in the housing market, has led couples to seek alternative ways to achieve homeownership. Despite the difficulties, first-time home buyers are getting creative by using multiple sources, including savings and gifts from family or friends, to finance their down payments.