Veterans United Survey: 6 in 10 Parents Are Helping Their Kids Buy Homes

The Bank of Mom & Dad is playing a major financial role in the next generation’s path to homeownership.

About 6-in-10 parents (59%) have provided or plan to provide financial assistance to help their child buy a home, according to a new Veterans United Home Loans survey of 400 Veterans, service members and civilians.

That support is especially common among Veterans – 68% say they have helped or plan to help, compared with 49% of civilians.

The findings point to a housing market where many parents see stepping in as both necessary and worthwhile, whether to help their children clear major upfront costs or build a stronger financial future.

“For many families, helping a child buy a home has become less of an optional gesture and more of a practical response to today’s affordability challenges,” said Chris Birk, vice president of Mortgage Insight at Veterans United. “Parents want to give their children a stronger footing, whether that means helping them bridge upfront costs, qualify for financing or start building wealth through homeownership.”

Down Payments Top the List

Helping their children afford a down payment was the most common reason parents cited for stepping in (43%). Another 37% said they want to help their child qualify for a mortgage, while 33% cited helping with closing costs.

The results suggest parents are often focused on a couple of the biggest barriers to buying a home – saving enough cash upfront and meeting mortgage requirements.

But many parents also take a longer view when considering their financial support.

A third said they want to help their child build equity and long-term wealth, while 27% said they want to reduce their child’s monthly payment. One-quarter said they want to help their child afford a home in a better neighborhood or school district.

How Parents Are Providing Support

Parents are using several different approaches to help, but direct financial contributions are the most common. One-third say they have provided or plan to provide a down payment contribution, while 30% say they are gifting cash. Another 30% say they have paid off debt or plan to, which can improve a child’s financial position ahead of buying.

Other forms of help include closing cost assistance (27%), allowing their child to live at home to save money (27%), paying for initial furnishings or improvements (25%) and covering moving expenses (23%).

In many cases, that help comes with no expectation of repayment. Among parents who have helped or plan to help, 57% say the assistance is a gift. Another 20% say it’s a loan, while 23% consider their giving a combination of both.

Big Dollars, Bigger Commitments

The amounts involved are often significant.

Thirty percent of parents say they have provided or expect to provide between $25,000 and $49,999, while 23% say they plan to contribute between $50,000 and $99,999. Another 12% expect to provide between $100,000 and $199,999, and smaller shares say they will provide even more.

Parents are also drawing on a range of financial resources to make that support possible.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) said they’re using checking or cash accounts. Half said they are tapping investment accounts, while 35% pointed to home equity through a HELOC, cash out refinance or property sale. Another 32% said they are using retirement accounts, and 27% cited inheritance or trust funds.

Some parents are taking an even bigger role in the purchase itself.

Nearly 1-in-5 parents (18%) said they have co-signed on a mortgage with their child or plan to do so. Another 17% said they’ve bought a home outright for their child or expect to, and the same share have made or plan to make a private loan directly to their child.

“At the end of the day, this is about families working together to navigate a challenging market,” Birk said. “For parents who are in a position to help, it can be a powerful way to open the door to homeownership sooner and set their children up with a stronger financial foundation for the future.”

Methodology

On behalf of Veterans United, research and data firm Sparketing conducted an online survey from March 13 to March 24, 2026 of 400 Veterans and civilians who intend to buy a home in the next three years.